Hundreds mourn George Floyd in North Carolina, while thousands protest in nation’s capital
RAEFORD, North Carolina -- Thousands of protesters are pouring onto the streets of dozens of American cities Saturday as George Floyd's life is celebrated at an intimate memorial service in North Carolina.
After hundreds of mourners lined up Saturday for a public viewing in Raeford -- near Floyd's birthplace in Fayetteville -- his family sang and prayed for him in a private service.
In an obituary for the service, his family described him as someone who helped others reach their "fullest potential" and could find "the good in every situation."
"George earned the name 'gentle giant' for his quiet personality and beautiful spirit towards everyone," the obituary says.
Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin spoke at the memorial, denouncing police brutality and urging law enforcement to see they are part of the problem.
"I don't care what George did, we as law enforcement officers, we don't have the authority to bully, push people around and kill them because we have a badge and a gun," Peterkin said.
The memorial was held more than 1,300 miles from where Floyd's life ended last week at the hands of Minneapolis police and was the second stop in a series of events to celebrate his life.
Floyd's death has spurred 11 nights of sometimes violent unrest and forced several U.S. cities to take steps against police violence and racial bias.
From the nation's capital to Los Angeles, crowds were taking the streets for a second weekend of demonstrations. An estimated 6,000 protesters at the Lincoln Memorial and near the White House in the nation's capital, according to a tweet from D.C. Police.
Protesters were also gathering at other locations, including Capitol Hill.
They carried signs remembering Floyd and other victims of police brutality, with messages such as "Remember their names" and "Silence is violence."
"From a very young age, my parents told me that is what to expect when it comes to racism and how I'm viewed," Roger Campbell II, a Maryland teacher who was among the protesters at the Lincoln Memorial. "So I always just accepted it and never really tried to look at it too much... All those emotions, the anger, the frustration, the hurt -- it just bubbles up."
Outside the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, hundreds of protesters gathered for a march to the National Mall, with a stop in front of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, then on to the Lincoln Memorial. Freedom Fighters DC, one of the organizing groups, held a voter registration drive.
"I don't care if I lose my life if that means my nieces and my nephews won't have to deal with someone invalidating them because of the color of their skin," said Philomena Wankenge, a board member and founder.
