The daughter of George Floyd has been recorded paying a heartfelt tribute to her late father, saying: "My daddy changed the world."
Floyd's death sparked mass demonstrations across the US and other major cities around the globe.
The 46-year-old black man died following his arrest by Minneapolis police officers. Per the Guardian, after reviewing the bodycam footage of Floyd's arrest, state charging documents allege that the now-former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on Floyd’s neck for a total of nearly nine minutes.
It also states that Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for two minutes and 43 seconds after Floyd had become non-responsive.
Yesterday, during a press conference in Minneapolis, Gianna’s mother Roxie Washington said she wanted "justice" for George Floyd.
In her first public comments since his death, an emotional Washington said: "At the end of the day, they get to go home and be with their families. Gianna does not have a father
"He will never see her grow up, graduate. He will never walk her down the aisle.
"If there's a problem she is having and she needs her dad, she doesn't have that anymore."
Washington was joined by former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who reportedly became friends with George Floyd after meeting him in Texas, and described him as his "twin" because they looked so alike.
Jackson responded to Washington's powerful words, saying: "There's a lot of stuff you said that he's gonna miss — that I'm gonna be there for. I'm gonna walk her down the aisle.
"I'm gonna be there for her. I'm gonna be here to wipe your tears. I'm gonna be here for you and Gigi.
"Floyd might not be here, but I'm here for her, I'm here to get justice, and we're gonna get justice for my brother."
Later in the day, George Floyd's six-year-old daughter, Gianna, was filmed sitting on Jackson's shoulders, looking around, and saying: "My daddy changed the world."
Watch the heartwarming moment below:On Friday it was revealed that Derek Chauvin, the fired police officer recorded kneeling on Floyd's neck, had been detained and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The 19-year veteran was arrested by the state’s bureau of criminal apprehension.
More on Chauvin's arrest below:Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman revealed in a statement: "We are in the process of continuing to review the evidence. There may be additional charges later."
Floyd's family has since released a statement calling Chauvin's arrest a "welcome but overdue step on the road to justice” and added that members “expected a first-degree murder charge" - which they still demand.
"The pain that the black community feels over this murder and what it reflects about the treatment of black people in America is raw and spilling out on to streets across [the country]," the statement added.
The statement concluded by saying:
"Today, George Floyd's family is having to explain to his children why their father was executed by police on video. It's essential that the City closely examines and changes its policing policies and training procedures to correct for the lack of proper field supervision; the use of appropriate, non-lethal restraint techniques; the ability to recognize medical signs associated with the restriction of airflow, and the legal duty to seek emergency medical care and stop a civil rights violation."
Under Minnesota law, a first-degree murder charge would require prosecutors to prove Chauvin’s actions were willful and premeditated.
Over the past nine days, protests - some peaceful, some violent - have erupted calling out the systemic injustices carried out against black people, not least seen by the recent deaths of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.
They are also demanding an end to police brutality and the racism that is so deeply entrenched in America and the western world.
The message is simple: Black lives matter.
VT proudly supports Black Lives Matter, and for ways to contribute to the cause, please click HERE.