On Sunday, the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer will be commemorated with religious services, concerts, and vigils in the cities where Floyd grew up and where he tragically lost his life. In Minneapolis, events will be centered around George Floyd Square, the intersection where Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes, leading to his death. The weekend kicked off with concerts, a street festival, and a self-care fair, culminating in a worship service, gospel music concert, and candlelight vigil on Sunday.
In Houston, where Floyd was raised, family members will gather at his gravesite for a memorial service led by Rev. Al Sharpton. Another memorial service will take place in a nearby park, followed by hours of music, preaching, poetry readings, and a balloon release. Activists had hoped that the global protests following Floyd’s murder would bring about lasting police reform and a continued focus on racial justice issues. However, progress has been slow, with some activists feeling that promised changes have not been implemented on the ground.
Despite promises from Minneapolis officials to reform the police department, activists like Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, feel that progress has been sluggish. The Trump administration’s recent actions to cancel police department overhaul settlements with Minneapolis and Louisville have further fueled concerns among activists. Additionally, efforts to end diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the federal level and in Republican-led states have raised alarm bells about the future of racial justice efforts in the U.S. As the nation marks this somber anniversary, many are reflecting on the work that still needs to be done to achieve true justice and equality for all.
