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CNN Live Event/Special

Family & Friends Say Final Goodbye to George Floyd. Aired 4- 4:25p ET

Aired June 09, 2020 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:02]

REV. AL SHARPTON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: I had to walk all the way to my headquarters of National Action Network.

When we got there, there were people everywhere. Cell phones was down, and people came to our headquarters to see if we could tell them what was happening, whether we were out of danger.

And for the first time since I was a little boy, I started preaching, as Bishop said, since I was a little boy. And I always had something to say.

But the first time in my life, I couldn't find words to say. And Jimmy (ph) -- I went in my office, Terry Anderson and I, trying to figure out, what could I say?

And I thought about this old preacher told me this story. He said: "Al, I had to preach one Sunday the early service, and I started reading this novel about 8:00 that night. And I got so into it that I couldn't put the novel down. I looked at the clock. It was 10:00. I wanted to go to bed, but I couldn't put the novel down. It was so intriguing.

"And I kept reading it. I turned and looked again, it was 11:30. I said, lord, I have got to get some rest. I have got to get up too early. But I couldn't put it down. He said, I kept reading.

"Finally, it was after midnight. And he said that, Al, I have got to tell the truth. I decided then I would cheat, and I turned to the end of the book to find out how the story was going to end."

I want you to know, on 9/11/2001, I want the family to know, like I told Michael Brown's family that afternoon, I cheated. I sat in my office and I took my Bible out. And I turned to the end of the book.

And I know how this story is going to end. The first will be last. The last will be first. The lion and the lamb is going to lay down together, and God will take care of his children.

We have got some difficult days ahead, but I know how the story is going to end. There's going to be justice for George Floyd. There's going to be justice for Eric Garner. This story won't end like this. God will never leave us, nor forsake us. I have been to the end of the book. Let's fight on. Let's stand together.

Let us not leave this family now that this ceremony is over. This is the beginning of the fight. This is not the end of the fight.

George, I read on the front page of "The New York Times" this morning you said you wanted to touch the world. Well, God had already made you for that. But you didn't touch it in a basketball court or a football court.

God had something else for you to do, because, all over the world, George, they are marching with your name. You touched the world in South Africa. You touched the world in England. You touched every one of the 50 states. Even in a pandemic, people are walking out in the streets, not even following social distancing, because you have touched the world.

And as we lay you to rest today, the movement won't rest until we get justice, until we have one standard of justice.

Your family is going to miss you, George, but your nation is going to always remember your name, because your neck was one that represented all of us. And how you suffered represented our suffering.

So, we're going to lay you near your mama now. You called for mama. We're going to lay your body next to hers. But I know mama's already embraced you, George. You fought a good fight. You kept the faith. You finished your course.

Go on and get your rest now. Go on and see mama now. We going to fight on. We going to fight on. We going to fight on. We going to fight on.

(APPLAUSE)

[16:05:12]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Praise the lord. I wrote this song 20 years ago. And I never thought I'd sing it for a game-changer.

(MUSIC)

[16:13:07]

REV. MARCUS COSBY, WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH: Beloved, if you will maintain order for just a few more moments, we have come to the termination of this celebration of life.

And to God be the glory for the life of George Floyd Jr.

Kurt Carr and the singers have told us that we need give God praise. The Bible says that let everything that have breath praise the lord. So let everything in this room on behalf of George Floyd that have breath praise the Lord, even right now.

Let's praise God for George's life, for his legacy, and for his memory. As we prepare to leave from this place, there are a few matters of

order that must be considered as we prepare to leave. I'm going to ask everyone to please take your seat at this time. Everyone, will you please take your seat at this time? Thank you so very much.

As we take our seats now, we're going to terminate this service, allowing the family to leave first. And then, because we must maintain order and get the family to the cemetery in an appropriate amount of time, the ushers are in the aisles, and they're going to dismiss each section singularly.

We're going to ask that you will stay in your seat until the usher has made it clear that it is time for your section to recess, to leave the sanctuary.

I'm going to ask that you will do that. And it has been requested that you will go immediately to your cars, so we can allow everyone to clear off of the campus of the Fountain of Praise as expeditiously as possible.

We must maintain order. We must get this done, so that the family can get to the cemetery, and we can lay this body to the ground, as we have celebrated his life in such grand fashion.

[16:15:01]

Thank you, church, for being the church that you have been throughout this time. Thank you, beloved community, for hearing what we have asked of you and responding accordingly. We're going to leave from this place now. And as we do, we are going to celebrate what god has done by giving to us the life of George Floyd Jr.

The Bible says the Lord giveth and Lord taketh away. Now, blessed be the name of the Lord. Will you help me bless the Lord as the family stands and prepares to dismiss from this place at this time?

Funeral directors, we are following your directions, and all other members of the congregation will remain seated until the ushers have dismissed you. Thank you so very much.

Fort Bend has something to present, oh, please? Fort Bend, will you make your presentation at this time? Fort Bend funeral home?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If everyone else would please just remain seated, just the family in this section right here in the center so we will be decent and in order, we will ask the family to follow the direction of Fort Bend funeral services.

(MUSIC)

[16:22:13]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Front exits are for everyone except for the family. If you are exiting the building, we are going to ask that you respectfully exit through the side doors that are here at the front. The family is going through the center aisle. Please do not crowd the family any further.

Please exit through the side doors here. I don't see nobody moving this way. I need people to move this way. I need you to move that way, towards the front.

Amen. We'll keep order in place. Amen. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.

Yes, yes. There we go. And you can come around through the front if you want to catch up with someone there through the lobby. Please exit. Thank you.

(MUSIC)

[16:24:30]