Sharpton, Biden to honor Floyd at funeral

Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to deliver the eulogy at the funeral service for George Floyd, and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden is planning to meet privately on Monday with the family of the man whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police has sparked two weeks of protests.

Floyd’s body arrived in Houston on Saturday night at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. From there, Houston police escorted the body to the Fort Bend Memorial Planning Center.

A public viewing is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. Monday at The Fountain of Praise in Houston, 13950 Hillcroft Ave. A private funeral starts 11 a.m. Tuesday

in the same church. He will be buried next to his mother at Houston Memorial Gardens, 2426 Cullen Blvd. in Pearland.

In addition to Sharpton, Remus E. Wright and Pastor Mia K. Wright, the senior pastor and copastor of the Fountain of Praise, will deliver the life celebration salutation.

Biden plans to travel to Houston on Monday to offer his condolences to Floyd’s family, the New York Times reported. He will also record a video message for Tuesday’s funeral, according to the New York Times.

The University of Houston canceled Monday classes so that students would have a chance to attend the public viewing.

Floyd, who was black and grew up in Houston’s Third Ward, was killed Memorial Day by a white Minneapolis police officer who pinned him to the ground with his knee on his neck as Floyd pleaded for help.

Floyd’s death has become a catalyst for a pivotal moment in civil rights history, sparking nearly two weeks of protests targeting police brutality and racial injustice across the country.