Remembrances for George Floyd have taken place throughout the country — his birth state of North Carolina, his chosen home of Minneapolis, where he spent the last six years of his life — but on Tuesday, the 46-year-old was laid to rest next to his mother in Pearland, Texas, outside of Houston, where he grew up in the city’s Third Ward. The day before, thousands showed up to wait in line and have their temperature checked to gain entry to the Fountain of Praise church, where Floyd, in a brown suit, was laid in an open gold casket. On Tuesday, family, friends, and notable guests celebrated his life, mourned his death at the hands of the police, and vowed to hold up the promise of his 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, who said Floyd would “change the world.” To observe the moment, photographer Mel D. Cole joined the services for the man whose death may have permanently altered many Americans’ tacit acceptance of police brutality and inequities in the criminal-justice system.
George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, speaks outside the church.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
The scene outside the church.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Texas governor Greg Abbott.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Visitors held up signs commemorating Floyd.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Houston Police Department chief Art Acevedo.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Visitors outside the church.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s mother.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Marcus Arbery Sr., Ahmaud Arbery’s father.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Stephen Jackson, retired NBA player and Floyd’s friend.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Community members gather for a candlelight vigil at Yates High School in Houston.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
A memorial wall in Houston for those who have died violently.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Funeral flowers being loaded onto the hearse.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
The procession of police officers outside the church.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Members of the Black Panthers outside the church.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Visitors outside the church.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
A Texas Southern University police officer. Most of these officers wore a mask printed with the words “I Can’t Breathe.”
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Al Sharpton
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Community members outside the church.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Standing by as the hearse with Floyd’s coffin departs the church.
Photo: Mel D. Cole
Trump will depart Washington on Wednesday morning before Biden is sworn in, becoming the first modern-day president to skip his successor’s inauguration.
Instead, Trump will attend an unprecedented farewell event at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, where Air Force One is kept. No recent president has had his own sendoff ceremony at Andrews.
Don’t believe the rumors: Trump and Giuliani are still pals (though it’s unclear if Trump is paying his legal fees)
When Rudolph W. Giuliani was treating his efforts to carry out President Trump’s wishes to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election as a payment opportunity — he proposed a daily retainer of $20,000 for his legal services from the burgeoning Trump campaign legal fund — the presidentdismissed it and responded by demanding to personally approve each expense.
Nine weeks and another impeachment later, Mr. Trump began the day on Thursday by asking aides to erase any sign of a rift. Stripped of his Twitter account, Mr. Trump conveyed his praise through an adviser, Jason Miller, who tweeted: “Just spoke with President Trump, and he told me that @RudyGiuliani is a great guy and a Patriot who devoted his services to the country! We all love America’s Mayor!”
White House officials are universally angry with Mr. Giuliani and blame him for both of Mr. Trump’s impeachments. But the president is another story.
Even as he complains about Mr. Giuliani’s latest efforts as fruitless, the president remains unusually deferential to him in public and in private. “Don’t underestimate him,” Mr. Trump has told advisers.
But only up to a point. While Mr. Trump and his advisers balked at the $20,000 request weeks ago, it is unclear whether the president will sign off on Mr. Giuliani being paid anything other than expenses.
NEW: Biden has unveiled his proposal for a new $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid bill.
Among other things, it includes a new round of $1,400 checks, $50 billion for testing, $20 billion for vaccines, $350 billion for states, local and territorial governments.
Wow, Murkowski on impeachment: “Trump’s words incited violence, which led to the injury and deaths of Americans … unlawful actions cannot go without consequence and the House has responded swiftly, and I believe, appropriately, with impeachment.”
Jaime Harrison, who proved his fundraising prowess in his race against Lindsey Graham, will be the next DNC chair
President-elect Joe Biden has chosen former Senate candidate Jaime Harrison of South Carolina as the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, as he moves to remake the national party infrastructure to better compete with Republicans.
Harrison, 44, a former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, raised more than $130 million in his effort to defeat Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R) last year, making himself a well-known name among Democrats nationwide. His candidacy for the DNC chairmanship had been promoted by Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), a close Biden ally who played an instrumental role for Biden during the Democratic primary contest. Harrison’s selection was confirmed by two Democrats familiar with Biden’s decision.
Rep. Peter Meijer, one of the Republicans who voted to impeach, tells @HallieJackson on @MSNBC that he’s buying body armor and altering his daily routines because his life is in danger.
Dr. Harold Bornstein, Trump’s eccentric former doctor, has died
Dr. Harold N. Bornstein, who for a time was President Donald J. Trump’s personal physician and who had attested that Mr. Trump would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency,” died on Friday. He was 73.
His death was announced on Thursday in a paid notice in The New York Times. The notice did not give a cause or say where he died.
Representative Adriano Espaillat is quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19
I received the second dose of the #COVID19vaccine last week and understand the affects take time. I have continued to be tested regularly, wear my mask and follow the recommended guidelines. I will continue my duties representing New York’s 13th congressional district remotely until I have received clearance from my doctor. I encourage all residents to follow public health guidelines for the safety of our #NY13 community.