On Tuesday, a funeral for George Floyd was held in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Floyd, who was killed over two weeks ago by police in Minneapolis, was a security guard. He is remembered by family and friends as a “gentle giant.” His young daughter, Gianna, was present during the funeral.
At one point, an emotional video from former vice president Joe Biden was played. In the prerecorded video, Biden calls Gianna “brave,” and condemns President Donald Trump’s response to Floyd’s killing. The protests that have spilled out following Floyd’s death have gripped the nation for weeks.
Meanwhile, President Trump floated an odd conspiracy theory on Twitter during Floyd’s funeral. He suggests that Martin Gugino, a man seen being pushed over by police in a viral video, is an “antifa plant.” Trump’s tweet echoes a One America News segment that claims Gugino was somehow scanning police communications.
George Floyd’s funeral in Houston, Texas attracted a massive crowd Tuesday. During the funeral, a short video featuring Joe Biden played. The prerecorded video addressed Gianna, Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter, commending her bravery.
“Daddy is looking down at you, and he is so proud of you. I know you miss that bear hug that only he could give, the pure joy of riding on his shoulders so you could touch the sky”. Biden made reference to a now-viral video of Gianna riding on her father’s friend’s shoulders, smiling and proclaiming, “Daddy changed the world!”
“Now is the time for racial justice,” Biden says in the video. “That’s the answer we must give to our children when they ask why. Because when there is justice for George Floyd, we will truly be on our way to racial justice in America. And then, as you said, Gianna, your daddy will have ‘changed the world.’”
As Biden strikes a somber tone and reaches out to Floyd’s family, Trump has remained antagonistic towards protesters. On Tuesday, he tweeted a bizarre conspiracy theory involving 75-year-old Martin Gugino.
In a video online, you see police roughly push to the ground. His head is bleeding in the video. Trump has suggested that Gugino was actually a plant by “antifa,” likely referring to black bloc counter-fascism protesters. Notably, there have been no black bloc tactics at any of the nationwide protests following Floyd’s death.
Trump has suggested that police should be rough with protesters, releasing “vicious dogs” on them. This has led to some protesters mocking the president by bringing flea medicine for dogs to protests and peacefully demonstrating.
