New Voices: Words from George Floyd’s funeral

By Taxpayer Association of Oregon,

In this time of listening and understanding we highlight some of the thoughts spoken at George Floyd’s funeral and memorial:

Ben Crump, Floyd family attorney

As Thomas Jefferson said in the bill of rights, all Americans are given the Inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit to be happy on this earth. That’s all George was asking for like any and all of us. As Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence, that inalienable rights endowed by our creator, rights to life, liberty and pursuit to be happy on this earth. But he was denied those rights. We will seek justice in his name. We are all united as a people who are God’s children seek justice in his name. But beyond the specific justice in his case, in his case, the prosecution of the four individuals who deprived George of his life, we seek a broader, more transformative justice. A more just system of policing. A more just treatment of people of color. A more just criminal justice system.

In essence what we are endeavoring to do is what my personal hero Justice Thurgood Marshall said: “Make the constitution real for all Americans”.

You see Justice Marshall said the basis of the constitution is that a black baby born to a black mother, the most uneducated black mother, the most inarticulate black mother, the most impoverished black mother, has the same exact rights as a white baby born to a white mother, the most educated white mother. The most articulate white mother, the most affluent white mother, just by virtue of that baby drawing its first breath as an American. Now justice Marshall said, “I know that’s not the case in America today. But I challenge anybody to say that that’s not the goal we’re fighting for…..”

Benjamin Crump, American Civil Rights Attorney
Floyd Family Lawyer

I want to put it on the record, that it was not the coronavirus pandemic that killed George Floyd. I want to make it clear on the record, we’ll pack it — it was that other pandemic that we’re far too familiar with in America, that pandemic of racism and discrimination that killed George Floyd.

Roger Floyd, youngest brother of George Floyd:

I appreciate the love of everyone in here. And as the state of Minneapolis you all have adopted my brother and showed him so much love. And we feel that love in your city and thankfully everybody and plus around the world. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a great love we’re receiving and George Floyd is receiving. ‘Cuz he would love it. I wish he was here and present in the flesh to see it. Because all of this great unity he – he would bring you to tears like its bringing us.

Sharita Tate, Cousin

We come from a large line of large family members. We didn’t have a whole lot but we always had each other. We always were taught that we could always bring other people into the fold. Always. No one should ever go home without having a meal or having food. …My aunt was someone in the community …all the kids liked to come over there. She ended up having 30-40 kids that would come over there to have food and feel loved and be part of the fold. We were raised to always welcome people in and embrace other people. You could see that all of these people, no matter who you talked to, they will always say the same thing, George always was somebody who welcomed people and made people feel like they were special and no one felt left out.

Clayborne Carson,
Dir. Martin Luther King,  Research & Education Institute,  Stanford

“It’s been building up for all of American history. I think that people who are aware of the history of this country understand that there’s a lot to atone for and a lot to celebrate in terms of people who stood up for justice.”

— Here are some of the other “New Voices” articles we published highlighting what others are saying:

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New Voices: Former Sec. of State Condoleeza Rice on George Floyd

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New Voices: Lessons from Phoenix’s Police Chief

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New Voices: Civil rights activist, MLK niece speaks on unrest