“Take your knees from our necks”: a very political tribute to George Floyd

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Family, religious or political leaders and celebrities gathered at the North Central Christian University in Minneapolis to honor the memory of George Floyd, whose death at the age of 46 under the knee of a white police officer on May 25 unleashed a deep wave of anger across the United States.

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The ceremony, in the presence of black personalities like rapper TI or comedian Kevin Hart, began with a moving interpretation of "Amazing Grace" after the mayor, white, of Minneapolis knelt in tears before the coffin. It was notably marked by a period of silence of 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the time during which the police officer Derek Chauvin remained kneeling on the neck of George Floyd despite his pleas.

Speaking, the brother of the deceased, Philonise Floyd, denounced with applause "  the pandemic of racism and discrimination  " which prevailed. Reverend Al Sharpton, a figure in the civil rights movement, delivered a very political eulogy. "  George Floyd should not be among the dead. He did not die from a common health problem. He died of a common dysfunction of the American justice system  , "he said, seeing in the knee that crushed George Floyd's neck the symbol of African American oppression in the United States. 

"  Your knee on our neck  "

“  The story of George Floyd is the story of black people. Because for 401 years, the reason why we have never been able to be what we wanted to be is because you had your knee on our neck! We were too smart for these underfunded schools you sent us to, but you had your knee on our neck ! We may have been running businesses: you had your knee on our neck ! What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country, in education, health care and all aspects of American life. It is time for us to stand up in tribute to George and say 'Take your knees from our necks,'  ”he proclaimed, calling on the police to report.

 A Donald Trump, who evacuated manu militari the surroundings of the White House Monday evening to pose in front of a church, bible in hand, the Baptist pastor of 65 years advised to "  open the bible  ". "  I have been preaching since I was a child, and I have never seen anyone hold a bible like that, but let's move on,  " he said. The Reverend's messages were perfectly understood by the demonstrators who, at the same time, were on the improvised mausoleum erected at the place where George Floyd was killed.

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