Family, supporters march in US ahead of anniversary of George Floyd death

Supporters and relatives of George Floyd marched Sunday ahead of the first anniversary of his murder by a white policeman, a killing that prompted a reckoning on racial injustice in the United States.

About 1,500 marchers in Minneapolis listened to speeches and joined members of the Floyd family and relatives of other Black people who died in encounters with the police. Floyd, 46, was killed on May 25, 2020 by city police officer Derek Chauvin who knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Chauvin, convicted by a jury of murder and manslaughter, is to be sentenced on June 25. The rally opened with speeches outside the Hennepin County Government Center in central Minneapolis, where Chauvin stood trial.

"It has been a long year. It has been a painful year. It has been very frustrating for me and my family," Floyd's sister Bridgett Floyd told the gathering.

Floyd said her life changed "within a blink of an eye" when her brother died. "I will stand and be the voice for him," she said. "I will stand and be the change for him."

Floyd's death sparked protests against racial injustice across the United States and around the world.

'Hopeful for change'

Veteran campaigner Reverend Al Sharpton told the crowd that Floyd's killing was "one of the greatest disgraces in American history."

"What happened to George Floyd, as well as so many others, is driving change not only across America but the world," he said.

"They thought that they could get away with it, and you went to the streets, black and white, young and old, in the middle of the pandemic" to call for justice, Sharpton said.

"George Floyd should not go down in history as just someone with a knee on his neck, but as a man whose death helped 'break the neck' of police racism, brutality and illegality."

"It's important to show up to represent the Floyd family and the injustices that continue to spread in society," said Lenora McFarthing, 67, of St. Paul, Minnesota, a retired director from AT&T Wireless.

"You can't just sit home and watch TV and tweet and go on social media," she said. "You have to be visible. People are hopeful for change."

Frustrations have been running high in Minneapolis over mounting violence in the city.

Anger over a soaring homicide rate and other gun violence -- a recent three-week span saw three children hit by stray bullets -- has led to the formation of citizen patrols.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey plans to add 200 officers to the city's thinned police ranks, and has called for more aid from outside law enforcement agencies.

He supports community-driven efforts, including citizen patrols.

"Minneapolis police officers will continue to rush into harm's way to save lives," Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said after the latest shootings Saturday.

"Our greatest strength is when we all work together to keep our city safe."