#BlackLivesMatter: George Floyd’s Memorial Service and Updates on Other Cases

George Floyd’s memorial service, one of several planned took place on June 4 in Minneapolis. Floyd’s family was joined by Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, Martin Luther King III, and M innesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rev. Jesse Jackson. Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver a eulogy at the memorial.

Scott Hagan, president of North Central University in Minneapolis, where the service is being held, announced the creation of the George Floyd memorial scholarship during the service. He encouraged other universities to establish similar funds.

The officers involved in Floyd’s murder were charged by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison the day before the service. During his announcement, Ellison acknowledged that “Winning a conviction will be hard. We’re confident in what we’re doing, but history does show that there are clear challenges here.”

Protests over George Floyd’s death, police brutality, and the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor and countless other black lives continue around the world. Protestors called for justice for Taylor, who was shot in her own home when Kentucky police officers entered to serve a search warrant. The officers in her killing have not been charged. In Georgia, a judge ruled that the case against three men charged with murdering Ahmaud Arbery can go forward.

While all four police officers who killed George Floyd were charged, it still remains to be seen if they will be convicted. The maximum possible prison sentence could be up to 40 years. While many police officers do their job bravely, it is undeniable that many Black Americans lack confidence in the American criminal justice system, and that has to change.

Peaceful protests continued on Thursday across the country.

Here’s what you can do:

Many organizations like Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, and the NAACP are working to empower black Americans and achieve justice for those impacted by racist systems.

Also, remember to register to vote if you haven’t already. This is one of the simplest ways to make your voice heard as a citizen. Here are some resources for you:

Places to Donate:

• Donate to Black Lives Matter here.
• Get involved with your local BLM chapter: The full list is here or start your own.
• Many protestors are getting arrested and being held. Donate to bail funds in your city, here or here.
• HBCUBuzz has a listing of lawyers and legal resources for protestors, organized by state.
• Resources and donations by the National Police Accountability Project.
• Learn about Campaign Zero, which works to end police violence in America.
• The New York Times has put together an anti-racist reading list.
• National Black Bailout Fund, which works towards ending systems of mass incarceration and freeing imprisoned black mothers.
• Visit Louisville Community Bail Fund to contribute towards bail for protesters in Louisville.

Petitions to Sign:

• Justice for George Floyd
• Petition to end medical racism
• Justice for Breonna Taylor
• Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
• Justice for Tony McDade, Black trans man killed by police
• Sign the “Justice for George Floyd” petition on Change.org
• Color of Change launched a petition asking that all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice.

For a more extensive resource list, please see the collection put together by Black Lives Matter.

Through this grief and anger, we must unite and work together to create the change we want to see. Let’s make sure no black child has to ever say these heartbreaking words ever again. 

If you’re attending a protest, please be safe and careful and maintain social distancing, if possible.