6 years after George Floyd's death, Minneapolis honors his legacy with historic gathering

George Floyd, Emmett Till family meet

Community members marked six years since George Floyd was killed with a day of remembrance in Minneapolis. FOX 9’s Leon Purvis has the details.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A day of remembrance brought together community members and two families whose stories have shaped the nation’s conversation on racial justice.

Remembrance events at George Floyd Square

What we know:

Community members gathered at George Floyd Square for a moment of silence and the Yellow Rose Ceremony, where people laid yellow roses one by one to honor Floyd.

Angela Harrelson, George Floyd’s aunt, addressed the crowd and spoke about the ongoing fight for change.

"A man died here for all of us, for all the races, for everybody," Harrelson said on Friday. "We need each other, and when people say, 'Well, these things are not our fight, this is not my fight. Well, you know what it is our fight."

Emotions ran high during a prayer circle for Floyd and other families impacted by violence.

Leslie Remond, founder and executive director of Win Back, said, "Brother George is gone, but he is never forgotten, as his daughter Gianna said. He has changed the world. We will stand here today, and we will stand here always in solidarity with George Floyd's family. With all the impacted families."

The gathering included a brunch panel and a moment for reflection, as people remembered Floyd’s impact and legacy.

George Floyd Day of Remembrance Brunch [RAW]

Community organizers and nonprofit leaders held the George Floyd Day of Remembrance Brunch in Minneapolis to mark six years since he was killed by Minneapolis police. 

Historic panel brings together two families

What they're saying:

For the first time, the families of George Floyd and Emmett Till appeared on the same stage in Minneapolis, drawing connections between two cases that shook the country generations apart.

Deborah Watts, cousin of Emmett Till, reflected on the legacy of Till’s mother and the civil rights movement.

"The March on Washington was actually on the actual anniversary date of Emmett's murder. They chose that because they wanted to galvanize the community the same way that Emmett's mother galvanized the community by opening the casket, and so, opening that casket in 1955 actually sparked a movement towards civil rights," said Watts.

Brandon Williams, George Floyd’s nephew, shared his perspective on the ongoing fight for justice.

"I think we all need to understand that this is not a one-person fight, that is, this is all of our fight. Because I remember seeing Trayvon Martin get killed, and I never would have thought that that same tragedy would be knocking at my family's door," said Williams.

Williams ended his message with a call for people to stay engaged, saying the goal is to make sure "the list of names doesn’t get longer."

The six-year anniversary of Floyd’s death falls on Memorial Day itself for the first time since May 25, 2020.

Organizers say several events are planned throughout Memorial Day weekend to honor Floyd’s life and legacy.