George Floyd Memorial Live Updates: Thousands march across Brooklyn Bridge for George Floyd
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Thousands marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to Foley Square in Manhattan following a memorial service for George Floyd, whose death last week at the hands of Minneapolis police has prompted ongoing global protests against police brutality.
His brother, Terrence Floyd, attended the service at Cadman Plaza Park, where videos were taken Wednesday night of officers using batons and pepper spray on protesters who remained after the 8 p.m. curfew.
"You are not alone," the large crowd chanted before an emotional Terrence Floyd, wearing a mask and a T-shirt bearing his brother's likeness, thanked them for their support.
"I thank God for you all showing love to my brother," he said.
Of the demonstrations that have engulfed the city and the nation, and the violence that has taken place, he said, "I'm proud of the protests but I'm not proud of the destruction. My brother wasn't about that. The Floyds are a God-fearing family."
"Power to the people, all of us," he said.
Elected officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, also addressed the crowd.
The mayor was met with jeers in his first appearance before the protesters.
"I can't breathe," they chanted and "resign."
"We have too much to change in this city and this country," de Blasio told the crowd.
Even some of the speakers took shots at the mayor, criticizing his management of the NYPD and his administration's response to the coronavirus.
Public advocate Jumaane Williams received loud cheers when he told the crowd, "We have the wrong president, we have the wrong governor, we have the wrong mayor."
Munira Siddiq, 30, of Queens, was overcome with emotion when Floyd spoke, saying she could physically feel his pain standing so close to him.
"If even a seed of change comes from this, it will have all been worth it," she said, before joining the march over the Brooklyn Bridge. "If we don't do this, nobody is going to."
In Minneapolis, celebrities, civil rights activists, politicians and family members of Floyd sang "Amazing Grace," prayed and joined together in a rousing memorial that was both a celebration of his life and a mourning of a man whose death at the hands of police has sparked protests nationwide and calls for an end to racial injustice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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