minds. this is the news why from berlin a final farewell the funeral of george floyd is taking place in his hometown of houston texas and these are live pictures of the funeral ceremony is being held in front of 500 invited mourners thousands of people filed past his coffin on monday to pay their final respects to george ford's death in police custody in minneapolis 2 weeks ago this last global protest against racism this he was 46 and will be laid to rest next to his mother in a houston suburb. it's

good to have you with us the funeral of george floyd the black man whose death in police custody ignited global protests against racism and police brutality is taking place right now at the fountain of praise church in houston texas friends and members of lloyd's family have been speaking strongly and eloquently about the man that they knew and loved we're going to go live to houston in just a moment but 1st let's hear what some of those friends and family members have been saying about a man named george flow. now that we thank you for this celebration we thank you for the life of joy it's oh i don't got that at a moment when he caught up for you mama we believe that mama it's nice.

that the premise. for redemption grants. for man upon this world because somebody must come out that george ward was not expendable this is why we're here. this. was not he was born black. that was his only crime george florey. these serve the dignity and the respect that we are court all people simply because they are children of a common god and it's very unfortunate that we have to be here but we're going to celebrate the life of your floor today. no more hate crowds. so i said make america great again but when you bring great.

those 4 offices where little. and so they have. this is not just murder. my grandmother was right there oh i'm sick come on baby you said if you're just going know what you're good at. moving words there don't use all of her salad. since fountain of praise church where george floyd's funeral is now taking place good afternoon to you all over i mean it has to be very moving to be near what is being said what is being heard there about the wife of george floor. it was a very emotional ceremony brant of course 500 guests in there the closest family

members friends but also a politician congress people from washington d.c. as well as civil rights activists so this ceremony had a political dimension well and then in spite of the sad atmosphere of the family wanted this to be a cheerful event as well it was celebrated in the tradition of the african-american church and that's with lots of music and lots of gospel and people singing and really remembering george floyd as the person he was we heard political messages to as we've just heard in the sound bites there was a very strong emotional video message by joe biden the likely presidential candidate of the democratic party also congress man al green spoke and he said that now is essentially the time to change something when it comes to racism and to racial inequality in the united states. it's and this opportunity has to be used and for this reason also the democratic party on monday unveiled

a comprehensive reform package that will tackle police violence now over you know the name george florey did speak come a rally call for people across the world in the u.s. here in europe people who want to fight police brutality and want to fight racism but there was also a human being attached to that name what do we know about the life of george will. who won the former classmate called him a gentle giant his family members simply referred to him as the big floyd and he was the tall guy an athlete he played basketball in football he grew up here as in the south western used in south actually a poor neighborhood so and many of the visitors who came yesterday on monday to bid farewell to the body of george floyd it was laid out here said that he was a humble person you know just your every day neighbor of course now because of

his tragic death he became the face of a worldwide movement if you will fighting racial inequality and fighting racism and this is what a lot of people here put their hopes and. fears over salat there in houston texas where the world is getting a final farewell to george for all of her thing. we're george floyd's death came as no surprise to spike lee the oscar winning director of films such as malcolm x. and do the right thing has made a short film which makes connections between floyd's death and what the filmmaker sees as institutionalized violence and racism in america's police forces he told the wy this time he is hopeful for change. spike lee's response to the death of george floyd was to make this film editing footage of floyd's killing with the chokehold death of america garner and 2014 and with scenes from his own 1989 film

do the right thing the writing was based upon the real love chokehold murder the artist might was through and then the anything about. the simple and brutal message is this is happened before if nothing changes this will happen again. but lee does see a difference this time in the broad group of americans whose response to george floyd's death was to take to the streets just black and brown america white americans or white your sister and brother take in the streets and joyous all of it all in saying this has to stop and there is a national crowd or these police departments across america we've got to do some with them you know they got a day they got to be reform change ask. how elisa is done the

united states of america. actually i for decades spike lee has been making movies about us racism and the forgotten history of african-americans amid the shooter action of his new film the 5 bloods about black vietnam vets least slips in social and political commentary. about the current resident of the white house leaders of mince words his nickname for president donald trump says it all agent orange going to go down as the worst president in history of the united states in america. and is only now this see his allies these generals and politicians are slowly starting to move away from him because they can read the rind in the wall and they don't want to go down in history attached

to this guy b. and b. done a written down history is on the wrong side of history with a capital w. for the 1st time in decades one of america's loudest critics sees hope for real change hope i see it of millions of americans who take their streets saying enough is enough i see hope in how you feel more hopeful on november 4th that's the day after president elect. that was the film director spike lee speaking with us earlier today we want to take you back now to those live pictures coming from the funeral of george floyd the black man who died in police custody 2 weeks ago his death ignited a global for test against racism and police brutality the service 2 days be held in

the fountain of praise church in georgia words hometown of houston texas he will be laid to rest later today he will be buried next to the spot where his mother. was beer it's and you heard the director spike lee there saying that his hope rests with election day in the united states in november and we've been looking at polling numbers connected with the death of george boyd in the polling numbers showed that the approval rating for president donald trump has dropped dramatically in the last 2 weeks with the presumptive democratic candidate joe biden now enjoying a double digit lead. over. so spike lee saying perhaps election day will bring change to state it's looking at these live pictures from inside the church this is the funerals for george lori let's see if we can just listen in. for

a couple minutes of what is being said in song justice. joining

us now. continuing coverage of the funeral of the african-american george floyd if you're all taking place right now in houston texas. african-american children she would say go under the need of a white police officer in minneapolis his death has sparked protests around the world people calling for a change into racism and police brutality we will continue our coverage

of this funeral at the top of the we will also have in-depth coverage tonight the day. for all of us here thanks for the company i will see you again at the top of the. pandemic. where does research stand. what are scientists learning. ground information. 19 special.