Protesters fill Floyd's hometown

An estimated 60,000 people marched to City Hall in George Floyd's hometown of Houston, Texas, on Tuesday to protest over his death in Minneapolis police custody on May 25 that triggered nationwide anger.

Many of the demonstrators wore T-shirts with Floyd's picture on it as they chanted "What's his name? George Floyd!" and "No justice, no peace!".

The mayor's office, giving the crowd size, said the protesters gathered downtown to honor Floyd. Former police officer Derek Chauvin now faces charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter.

Floyd grew up in Houston and lived most of his life in Houston's historically black Third Ward Neighborhood, more than a kilometer south of the park where the march began. He moved to Minneapolis in recent years for work.

Before beginning the 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) march to City Hall, rapper Bun B asked the crowd to kneel for 30 seconds of silence in memory of Floyd.

"We gonna sweat today,… but we ain't gonna shed a drop of blood in Houston, Texas," he said, calling for a peaceful protest.

The crowd then marched to City Hall, where they heard from relatives of Floyd and others.

Floyd's funeral is scheduled to be held in Houston next Tuesday. A public viewing for Floyd will be held on Monday at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, USA Today reported.

Rappers Trae Tha Truth and Bun B, whose given names are Frazier Thompson III and Bernard Freeman, respectively, coordinated with Floyd's nephew Brandon Williams in organizing the march. Floyd and Thompson were longtime friends.

Trae Tha Truth told the crowd at City Hall: "We didn't have no idea if there was gonna be 10 people or 10,000."

The march wasn't an official city event, but Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo participated.

"If any person doesn't understand the pain of the African-American community, I ask them to come out here and look at the pain in their eyes and the tears they shed," Acevedo told a local TV reporter at the march. "And I am proud to admit I have shed tears with them."

Given the continued threat of the coronavirus, the mayor urged the public to wear face masks and do their best to social distance.

At City Hall, several of Floyd's family members, including his brothers, thanked the crowd and repeated pleas for a peaceful protest.

Relatives also asked the marchers to continue the fight for change.

"We know this is just beginning, this is going to be a marathon," Floyd's cousin said.

'For the dignity'

Sheila Jackson Lee, a US congresswoman, who represents portions of Houston where Floyd was raised, drew cheers when she said she will introduce "revolutionary legislation" on Thursday with a bill in the name of George Floyd. The legislation will call for a sea change in police departments across the nation, she said.

"It is time for a revolution of change for the dignity of all of us, no matter what our color," Lee told the crowd.

The Reverend William Lawson, who has fought for civil rights for decades, spoke of his days of marching with Martin Luther King and others.

"It's not just black people who are angry. It is the world that is angry," Lawson said. "You have been heard. … Maybe nobody had heard you before. But with the death of this one simple Houston man, you have been heard."

Houston largely has been free of the violent protests in cities across the US, with some attributing that to the legacy of Floyd himself.

"The people who knew George the best help set the tone for Houston. They knew what he was about. He truly was a gentle giant, a sweet guy," said David Hill, a Houston community activist and pastor at Restoration Community Church, who knows the Floyd family.

Agencies contributed to this story.