Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Event/Special

Remembering George Floyd; Final Viewing and Sealing of Bier. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired June 09, 2020 - 12:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[12:30:00]

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR (voice-over): -- an expert in media management, overnight an expert in being a grief counselor to people who are in your family, overnight, but the bills still have to get paid. There are still, you know, diapers that have to be changed.

It is an unbelievable crucible that people are forced through and the miracle, at least within the black community, which is where I've done most of my work is that somehow people find the strength, beyond strength to get through this, and to hold their heads up, and to tell their stories, and to try to get justice in their case and for more, and it does break some families.

It does break some people. It is -- we are not subhuman and we are not superhuman. We are just human beings. We're just human beings trying to get through the goddamn day. And when this stuff happens, the expectation on us, we know from our grandparents and our parents and our great grandparents, the dignity that's respected -- expected of us in impossible situations, that Rosa Parks dignity that Nelson Mandela dignity, we know how to put that, you know, Michelle Obama dignity on as a cloak to try to make sure that we don't do anything that will, quote unquote, shame the race.

That we won't do anything that will say, well, look at what kind of family that was. They deserved it. And yet, when the cameras go away, and when the bills either get passed, or usually when they don't get passed, when the jury comes back, usually with the wrong verdict, you still have all of that pain to manage.

And so, you know, again, I agree with Sara, this is not a new movement. It's not a new situation. It's different, but it's not new. But look in the eyes of those folks. And just remember that a year from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now, they are still going to be suffering as a family, no matter what happens, no matter what America does. But please let's not let this, the death be in vain.

We have a new continent of common ground that has emerged that something needs to be done. And I pray that our elected officials, our media folks, our law enforcement folks, our Republican folks, our Democratic folks will put in place the measures to make sure that we have checks and balances in law enforcement. This should stop happening. No more these videos, no more funerals. This should not be a feature of American life. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I think my hope, Van, is this family looks around as this is the really the third service they've had and they see all of the people coming out for George Floyd that they see people who wish that they could carry some of their pain for them. And I think the question will be, how far are they? How long are they going to carry some of that pain that the Floyd family is experiencing them?

And when it comes to racial injustice, when it comes to systemic racism in education, in commerce, in employment, what is that going to mean? So let's listen in Houston to this final service for George Floyd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

REV. REMUS E. WRIGHT, SENIOR PASTOR, THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE CHURCH: Amen. Amen, you may be seated.

We certainly give honor to God who was the head of our lives and we greet each and every one of you that are watching by way of television, on stream, those of you that are here to observe the home going celebration of Brother George Floyd.

And certainly let me say to this family, our hearts are with you, our prayers are with you. We trust that God will strengthen you. The Old Gospel hymn says, in times like these, we need a savior. In times like these, we need an anchor. Be very sure that your anchor holes and grips the solid rock.

REV. MIA K. WRIGHT, CO-PASTOR, THE FOUNTAIN OF PRAISE CHURCH: Pastor Wright, we want to bring greetings to everyone who is within the sanctuary walls as well as those who are watching via stream or some platform today.

I'm reminded that the psalmist family, the Psalm has wrote these words in a time of trouble. And he said, this poor man called out. And the Lord heard him and he saved him out of all of his troubles. The Angel the Lord had camped around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

And then this word is what helps me and blesses me in such a manner that I can never move out of my pain without remembering this that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and he saves those who are crushed in spirit, Psalms 34:6-7 and 18 from the NIV will give you hope to the Floyd family and to all that are here, to our members, Robeta McGee (ph), to all of the people, to the clergy and the leaders of faith in our community are here who are dignitaries who are here, and our elected officials, and to everyone who's taken time to join us by stream. We are all connected.

R. WRIGHT: That's right. That's right.

[12:45:01]

M. WRIGHT: This is a moment of connectivity. This is a moment by which God has gathered people all around the world to connect us around the life of the Brother George Perry Floyd.

Now listen, today, there's a few things that we want to encourage you to expect. Can we help you today? First, we do ask you to keep your mask on within the sanctuary. We thank God for that. If anyone is in distress, you can stop into or raise your hand. Our ushers will be watching to make sure that we can assist you.

But in the tradition of the African-American church, this will be a home going celebration.

R. WRIGHT: That's right. That's right.

M. WRIGHT: Come on, I want to say it again. This will be a home going celebration of Brother George Floyd's life.

R. WRIGHT: Now you know what that means. That means foot stomping, toe tapping, shouting, halla, we'll be praising God, Amen, because we are celebrating his life.

But just before we begin this home going celebration, let me just thank publicly all of those people that helped to make this come to pass. I want to begin with Esquire, Benjamin Crump. Thank you for watching out over this family. In times of devastation, someone has to stand up and take the lead. And thank God that you've done that just that brother.

And then also the Reverend Al Sharpton. Thank you for through North Carolina and Minneapolis, continuing to sound the trumpet --

M. WRIGHT: Yes.

R. WRIGHT: And let people know that this is about injustice. And we want to see justice served. And then locally, I want to thank our mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, who've done such a wonderful job and making all the resources of this city available to have the reviewing yesterday.

As a matter of fact, we had a viewing yesterday with tens of thousands of people that came through these doors, and it came off without a hitch because we made sure HPD was here and the fire department was here and people were here were, EMT specialists were here. We had people here from everywhere. They were giving out water for all of those of you that donated your services, your resources, we want to thank you on behalf of this family. We thank you, thank you, thank you.

To Brother George Anderson, who was our chief operating officer of this church, and Brother Dallas Jones working together in tandem, to make sure everything was pulled together. Thank you. This is an enormous task. This is a gigantic responsibility. And for people that look at it and think, well, you know, I wouldn't have done it this way. You don't know how you would have done it. If you had this many people.

M. WRIGHT: Right. R. WRIGHT: This many people funneling through your doors. But thank God, we didn't have any problems. Everybody was respectful. Everybody was sensitive to what the family is facing. And we're just glad to know that we have such a great team here in Houston. And so me, I think it's ready for us to have some church, don't you?

M. WRIGHT: It's time for us to have church.

R. WRIGHT: Yes.

M. WRIGHT: It's time for us to celebrate his life. We may we whip, we may mourn, we'll be confident, and we will find hope that is for sure. We want to follow the program that is already printed. But for those who do not have programs, the musical selection will be led by Pastor Kim Burrell in this Houston aggregate of singers, amen, who have blessed us already. We are so delighted to have them here.

Reverend Arthur Rucker of the Fountain of Praise will do a part of the scriptural reading the Old Testament. Reverend Gusta Booker who is Pastor emeritus of Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church here in Houston, Texas --

R. WRIGHT: Amen.

M. WRIGHT: -- will do the New Testament reading. And Reverend Dr. Mary White, who leads the Prison Ministry here at the Fountain of Praise, she will offer prayer of comfort to the family.

R. WRIGHT: Afterwards, there will be a video montage that I think all of you will enjoy. So in that order, we're asking them to come now. Someone say, amen.

CROWD: Amen.

PASTOR KIM BURRELL, AMERICAN GOSPEL SINGER: As historical as this is, we recognize that this is a real family with real feelings. There are a lot of us in here who have sat in that position and it hurt. I want you to know the moment that the world announced that George Floyd had left the earth physically we became family.

Everyone in this room if we can just center our love around this family because I know what it means to hurt to leave, to have a loved one to leave, so we stand here and celebrate his life.

But I want to leave you with these words.

[12:49:31]

(SINGING)

BURRELL: -- with the family, one last thing.

(SINGING)

BURRELL: God bless you Floyd family.

[12:57:25]

REV. ARTHUR RUCKER, OLD TESTAMENT READING: Giving honor to the family of George Floyd, to the dignitaries that are in the house and to all of the clergy. And to the great pastor of this house, we offer you the reading of the word in the Old Testament according to the Book of Amos, Chapter Five, beginning of verse 16.

Therefore the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall all say in all the highways, alas, alas. And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the Lord.

Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord, to what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. It is this -- as if a man flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meal offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts, takeaway from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of your harps.

But let justice run down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. And this is the word of the Lord, thanks be unto God.

REV. GUSTA BOOKER, NEW TESTAMENT READING: To Floyd family, the Greater St. Matthew family, Pastor Ryan Booker (ph) would want you to know that we're still praying for you.

We want you to know that God had made himself available to the person of Jesus Christ to help you in times like these. God bless you.

[13:00:07]