Memorials to George Floyd facts for kids
George Floyd memorial
George Floyd was an African American man who died on May 25, 2020, while being arrested by a police officer in Minneapolis. People around the world remembered him through many events, protests, art, and special groups.
Contents
Remembering George Floyd
Many events were held to remember George Floyd. These included public services, special declarations, and art projects.
Funeral Services
A public memorial was held on June 4, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Many important people attended, including the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Civil rights leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson also spoke.
Another public viewing and family memorial took place in Raeford, North Carolina, on June 6. This was close to where Floyd grew up.
On June 8, Floyd's family held a public memorial in Houston, Texas. This event was watched by people all over the world online. Professional boxer Floyd Mayweather helped pay for the services. Former Vice President Joe Biden also met with the family and sent a video message.
George Floyd is buried next to his mother in Pearland, Texas.
Official Declarations
.jpg)
On June 9, 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz asked everyone in the state to have a moment of silence for 8 minutes 46 seconds. This was the same time that Floyd's funeral began in Houston. On May 24, 2021, one year after his death, Governor Walz asked for another moment of silence, this time for 9 minutes and 29 seconds.
On October 14, 2022, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey announced that this day would be "George Floyd Day." This was on what would have been Floyd's 49th birthday.
Organizations Remembering George Floyd
Two main groups were formed to honor George Floyd:
- The George Floyd Global Memorial is a non-profit group in Minneapolis. It collects and saves the art and items left by visitors at George Floyd Square. Their goal is to keep these important memories safe.
- The George Floyd Memorial Foundation is another non-profit group. It was started by George Floyd's sister, Bridgett Floyd, in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Protests and Campaigns
.jpg)
After George Floyd's death, many protests began in Minneapolis on May 26, 2020. People in the United States and other countries held protests to remember him. The street where he died became a special place held by demonstrators.
A petition called "Justice for George Floyd" was started online. By July 2020, it had almost 19 million signatures. This made it one of the most signed petitions ever on that website.
The Official George Floyd Memorial Fund was set up by George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd. It helped pay for funeral costs and for his children's education. This fund quickly raised a lot of money, becoming one of the biggest GoFundMe campaigns at the time.
A large event called "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" took place in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 2020. It was led by Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III. Family members of George Floyd and others spoke at the march.
Scholarships
Many colleges and universities created scholarships in George Floyd's name. These scholarships help students pay for their education. Some of these schools include North Central University, Alabama State, Oakwood University, and Missouri State University.
Slogans and Phrases
People used many slogans and phrases to remember George Floyd.
- "Eight minutes and 46 seconds" was a phrase used to mark a moment of silence. This was the time a police officer was first reported to have had his knee on Floyd's neck.
- Other slogans included "Justice for George," "I can't breathe," "Black Lives Matter," and "No justice, no streets." These phrases were used on protest signs and in chants.
Art Remembering George Floyd
Thousands of pieces of street art were created after George Floyd's death.
The George Floyd and Anti-Racist Street Art database was made by researchers at the University of St. Thomas. It is a free online library of art from around the world. Each artwork has information about the artist and where it is located. A group called Save the Boards in Minneapolis collects and saves murals painted on boards.
Murals
Artists painted many murals of George Floyd.
In Minneapolis, two murals were painted at the street where he died. A blue and yellow mural on the side of a grocery store became very famous. It was even used as a background at his funeral. Artists Cadex Herrera, Greta McLain, and Xena Goldman created this mural. Another artist, Peyton Scott Russell, painted a large black-and-white mural of Floyd's face. Pictures of this mural were shared globally.
In Portland, Oregon, artist Emma Berger painted a mural of George Floyd. It showed Floyd and the words "I can't breathe." She later added faces of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor to the mural.
Sculpture
A bust of George Floyd is in Union Square in New York City. A bust is a sculpture of a person's head and shoulders. This sculpture is made of wood and was shown by Floyd's brother, Terrence, on Juneteenth in 2021.
A statue of George Floyd is in Newark, New Jersey. It was made by artist Stanley Watts and shown in 2021. The statue is larger than life and shows Floyd sitting on a bench.
George Floyd Square
George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a special street intersection. It is located at East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, which is where George Floyd died.
U.S. Laws
After George Floyd's death, several new laws were suggested in the United States Congress. These laws aimed to improve policing and make changes to the justice system. Some of these bills included the BREATHE Act and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
Images for kids
-
The carriage carrying Floyd's casket to his burial in Pearland, Texas, June 9, 2020
-
A memorial vigil at Yates High School, from which Floyd graduated, in Houston, Texas
-
Along Floyd's funeral procession route in Pearland, Texas, on June 9, 2020
-
Symbolic headstone, Minneapolis, Minnesota
-
Black-and-white mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota
-
Blue-and-yellow mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota
-
George Floyd, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor in Minneapolis, Minnesota
-
Mural in Berlin, Germany
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
- Black Lives Matter art
- List of Black Lives Matter street murals
- List of monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests
- List of name changes due to the George Floyd protests
- Reactions to the murder of George Floyd
