MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings canceled all virtual team meetings on Thursday and ended the business day at noon to allow players, coaches and all staff members the opportunity to view a local memorial service for George Floyd, who died while in custody of the Minneapolis police department on Memorial Day.
Several Vikings players, including Kyle Rudolph, Adam Thielen, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Hughes, Aviante Collins, Alexander Mattison, Chad Beebe, Cameron Smith, Tajae Sharpe, Tyler Conklin, Jake Browning and Dakota Dozier, were in attendance for Thursday’s service, which was held at North Central University in downtown Minneapolis.
The players met at U.S. Bank Stadium and made the walk over to the memorial service shortly before 1 p.m. Celebrities, political activists and friends joined members of Floyd’s family inside the sanctuary of the university to hear a eulogy delivered by Rev. Al Sharpton.
Outside, hundreds gathered to mourn Floyd while the service was broadcast over the university’s loudspeakers. Several miles away, residents and supporters flocked to the site where Floyd died outside of Cup Foods in south Minneapolis where the service was also heard playing over loud speakers.
Floyd’s death fueled protests across the nation, which led to looting and property destruction throughout the Twin Cities. On Friday, Rudolph and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie, who joined Vikings players at the service, are holding a charitable drive for donations of food and other essential goods from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cub Foods at 2850 26th Avenue South in Minneapolis.
Three memorials over six days are planned for Floyd in the cities where he was born, grew up and died. The first memorial is on Thursday afternoon at North Central University in Minneapolis.
Floyd’s body will then go to Raeford, North Carolina, where he was born 46 years ago, for a two-hour public viewing and private service for the family on Saturday.
Finally, a public viewing will be held Monday in Houston, where he was raised and lived most of his life. A 500-person service on Tuesday will take place at The Fountain of Praise church. A private burial will follow.
