Whispers quickly spread among polling officers Tuesday morning at a Brooklyn neighborhood station: George Floyd’s brother was present
A few have spoken to Terrence Floyd, whose brother George died in Minneapolis police custody, sparking racial justice protests across the country ‘Keep up the fight,’ a black woman urged Others asked to take their photos with Terrence
Since the death of his older brother on May 25, Terrence has been placed in the spotlight that he was not looking for 42 year old school bus driver in New York, Terrence is normally a calm man, deeply attached to his three children But now he feels under constant pressure to take over his brother’s voice – especially on Election Day, when he believes race and racial justice are on the ballot.
« Since then, I have the impression that he was talking to me », he said about George’s death « He was saying: ‘Little brother, speak just for me Walk for me Love for me Make it clear to those people that what happened to me can happen to anyone ‘ »
On Tuesday, Terrence’s black hoodie and face mask included the words « I can’t breathe, » « Justice for George » and « 8:46, » the number of minutes and seconds originally stated by the authorities that a white officer held one knee to his brother’s neck until he no longer responds
After urging calm as anger spread through the streets after his brother’s death, Terrence planned to spend Election Day following a less noticed part of his emotional appeal to protesters: please vote
The names George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks, all killed by police or vigilantes, re-energized the Black Lives Matter movement this year and put race and justice at the center of the election As the vote wrapped up coast-to-coast, loved ones awaited signs that their public grief and loss of anonymity were not in vain
Former Vice President Joe Biden has pledged racial justice and reform, while President Donald Trump stuck to harsh « law and order » rhetoric After a summer of protests, about half of voters call racism a « very serious » problem in US society, AP poll found But compared to the pandemic and the economy, relatively few voters – about one in 10 – consider racism or law enforcement as the main problem of the country, according to the poll
The Floyd family helped the Biden campaign secure the vote Sunday, Terrence joined his sister, Bridgett Floyd, and other family members for a rally with Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, in Tallahassee, in Florida Last month Bridgett appeared in a campaign ad for Joe Biden
« Tuesday is so important, » said the Rev. Nicolas O’Rourke, director of the Pennsylvania organization of the Working Families Party, which focuses on systemic racism Philadelphia has become a hotspot following the fatal shooting of Walter Wallace Jr by police, a black man whose family members had requested mental crisis intervention on Oct. 26
« While communities are at different stages on the reform spectrum it is quite clear that there is a unilateral agreement that something has to change, » he said
In the early afternoon, Terrence, along with his lawyer Sanford Rubenstein and civil rights activist Kevin McCall, scoured Brooklyn looking for potential voters, with a speaker and microphone in their SUV. But he there were no lines in a handful of schools and community centers
Maybe most people had already voted early, Terrence thought. And hoped. Maybe they had already heard the message about the importance of voting
« I never really wanted to be political and tell people who to vote for because everyone has their own decision, their own opinions, » Terrence said. « But I said, » Wake up, use your eyes, pay attention to what’s going on »
Just after 1 p.m. they pulled up in front of the Brooklyn Museum, which served as the polling place.Outside the building, a small marching band sang, drummed and blew wind instruments They pulled over to allow to Terrence a moment to talk
« If you don’t vote you can’t complain if something goes wrong, » he said using a speakerphone and microphone « I’m here to let you know I’ve voted , because I can’t speak, if I don’t «
More than a dozen people had stopped to hear what Terrence had said and, when he had concluded, the group had resumed the game
Tuesday marked exactly 155 days since Terrence visited Minneapolis, where his brother died on June 1, as a result of arson, looting and other violence that spread to cities across the country, Terrence asked for calm
« Let’s change that, all of you. Let’s go. Do this peacefully, please, » Terrence said at a June 1 press conference in Minneapolis
On the same day, the president threatened the country’s governors to deploy the army in the states, if the leaders did not quell the violent unrest
« My administration is fully committed to seeing justice done for George and his family, » Trump said in an address from the White House rose garden. « He will not have died in vain But we cannot allow that righteous cries and peaceful protesters drowned by angry mobs «
That day in June, Terrence canceled previously scheduled interviews with TV news channels He was upset
His surviving siblings have grown much closer in recent months, Terrence said His 17-year-old son Amaree Floyd learned of his uncle’s death upon seeing the viral video of the kneeling officer on his neck
« I really had to talk to him about channeling his anger, » Terrence said. « I said, ‘Make that anger in your homework Use that anger to make a difference, by talking to your friends about what’s going on. pass I can’t reach your friends, but you can ‘ »
Late Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn, Terrence planned to continue rallying voters until the polls closed He said he thought watching the election results would make him feel the same as watching the New York Knicks play – you didn’t know if you were going to win
« I have a lot of emotions, » said Terrence « I’m more anxious than excited I remember when (Barack) Obama was running (for president) and everyone came out I see this same energy now So I’m really excited to see what happens « ___
George Floyd, Terrence Floyd, United States Presidential Election 2020, Election Day
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