Floyd family, civil rights leaders hold prayer vigil during closing arguments in Chauvin trial

The family of George Floyd joined national civil rights leaders outside the courthouse for a prayer vigil during closing arguments Monday.

George Floyd’s brother Rodney Floyd briefly addressed the media, thanking the press for continued coverage of the case and the community for demanding change.

"We would like to thank the people of the local community, the activists, that stepped up. So many people stepped up in this city, standing up for George, standing up for what’s right, what they believe in because they want to make sure their family member’s not another hashtag," Rodney Floyd said. "We would like to thank the community and would like to thank everybody around the world for standing together with us in solidarity."

The Reverend Al Sharpton, who delivered George Floyd’s eulogy last year, led the family in what he called a ‘global prayer for justice’ before the jury began deliberations.

"Dear God, we come, we approach you from different ways of worship. We approach you believing in different religions. We know you have all power and if we submit to your will, you will give us justice. We have watched blood flow. We’ve suffered the pains of families," Sharpton said.

George Floyd’s daughter Gianna was also at Monday’s news conference, along with other family members.

"We are, we believe, at a reflection point, where this country must come to terms with those that feel that blue uniforms makes them above the law. We are fighting to make blue jeans and blue uniforms both subject to the law," Sharpton prayed. "And you let George Floyd become a symbol of that."

Sharpton was joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and family attorney Ben Crump, along with local activists.

"A whole global group of activists, freedom fighters and young people who believe that we can be better than this, America," Crump said. "And we stand united as we have this global prayer for justice."

Crump and Sharpton noted the funeral of Daunte Wright will also take place this week in Minneapolis.

"This is why this trial is so important because it was not even a year later that death by police hit this city," Sharpton said. "So we do this global prayer because it has not stopped with George Floyd, but because many of us, whether it be in the Congress or in the streets, have kept this fight going and we are going to keep the fight going."

Several lawmakers also attended the news conference, including Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar and the chair of the congressional black caucus, Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio.

"In the words of George Floyd’s daughter, ‘My daddy will change the world,’" Beatty said. "And this verdict changes the world."