George Floyd for burial in Houston as 4 Minneapolis cops charged

George Floyd

George Floyd: funeral in Houston on 9 June

George Floyd: funeral in Houston on 9 June

The funeral for slain African-American George Floyd will be held 9 June in Houston, where he grew up before moving to Minneapolis.

Ben Crump, the family attorney, made the announcement Wednesday.

He said a memorial service will be held in Minneapolis Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.(7pm West African time).

The official George Floyd GOFUNDME memorial fund has raised close to $12million Wednesday night, 10 times the initial goal of $1.5million.

The burial plans were made known as Minnesota Attorney General unveiled new charges for Floyd’s killer Derek Cauvin and three other cops.

The white Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on the neck of Floyd will now be charged with second-degree murder.

His three colleagues will also face charges, court documents revealed Wednesday.

The May 25 death of George Floyd — who had been accused of trying to buy cigarettes with a counterfeit bill — has ignited protests across the United States over systemic racism and police brutality.

“Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is increasing charges against Derek Chauvin to 2nd degree in George Floyd’s murder and also charging other 3 officers,” US Senator Amy Klobuchar tweeted.

“This is another important step for justice.”

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Chauvin was charged last week with third-degree murder, which is roughly akin to manslaughter.

A charge of second-degree murder does not suggest premeditation but carries stiffer penalties.

Court documents show the second-degree murder charge was added to the prior charges.

The three other officers have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder, documents show.

In a statement, Floyd’s family described news of the new charges as a “bittersweet moment.”

“This is a significant step forward on the road to justice, and we are gratified that this important action came before George Floyd’s body was laid to rest,” the statement said.

The statement, issued by family attorney Ben Crump, also said that Ellison would consider elevating the charge to premeditated murder “if the evidence supports it.”

The family urged protesters to “raise their voices for change in peaceful ways.”

Tens of thousands of demonstrators defied night-time curfews Tuesday in several US cities.

But the demonstrations were largely peaceful, and while there were tense standoffs with law enforcement, the protests did not feature the looting or clashes with police of previous days.

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