Minute’s silence held to remember George Floyd a year after his death

George Floyd was honoured with a moment of silence in the city where he died at the hands of police, a death captured on a wrenching bystander video that galvanised the racial justice movement and continues to ripple a year later.

Mr Floyd’s sister Bridgett and other members of Floyd’s family joined Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey, citizens and activists at a park to observe the moment at 1pm, the time set by Democratic governor Tim Walz in a proclamation that said “true justice” for Mr Floyd would only come by dismantling systemic racism.

“It’s been a troubling year, a long year,” Bridgett Floyd told the crowd.

“But we made it.

“They say with God all things are possible and I’m a true believer in that … The love is very outpouring today.

“The love is here. George is here.”

A moment of silence was also held in New York and a rally was held in Los Angeles to honour Mr Floyd.

Globally, rallies took place in Greece, Spain and Germany to mark the day.

A family-friendly street festival was also planned at the Minneapolis intersection where Mr Floyd died.

The intersection was disrupted by gunfire just hours before the event.

Video from 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, informally known as George Floyd Square, showed people running and seeking cover as shots rang out.

Police said a man later showed up at a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound.

Police spokesman John Elder said authorities believe he was injured in the shooting at the square.

He was in critical condition but was expected to survive.

Philip Crowther, a reporter working for AP Global Media Services, which provides live video coverage to customers, reported hearing as many as 30 gunshots about a block east of the intersection.

Mr Crowther said a storefront window appeared to have been broken by a gunshots.

“Very quickly things got back to normal,” Mr Crowther said.

“People here who spend a significant amount of time, the organisers, were running around asking, ‘Does anyone need a medic?’”

Police said witnesses reported seeing a vehicle speeding away from the area.

Mr Elder said no one was in custody by midday on Tuesday.

Like other major cities, Minneapolis has been struggling with rising gun violence, a problem made worse, in part, by many officers leaving the embattled force since Mr Floyd’s death.

A six-year-old girl was fatally shot and two other children wounded in recent weeks.

Mr Frey last week unveiled a sweeping set of public safety proposals aimed at fixing the problem.

Other groups are pursuing a more radical remaking of the police department.

The intersection of 38th and Chicago has been barricaded since soon after Mr Floyd’s death and quickly turned into a memorial — and also a challenging spot for the city, with police officers not always welcome.

The square was being transformed into an outdoor festival on the anniversary of his death, with food, children’s activities and a long list of musical performers.

“We’re going to be turning mourning into dancing,” rapper Nur-D tweeted.

“We’re going to be celebrating 365 days of strength in the face of injustice.”

Mr Floyd, 46, who was black, died on Memorial Day 2020 after then-officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck, pinning him to the ground for about 9 1/2 minutes.

Mr Chauvin, who is white, was convicted last month of murder and faces sentencing on June 25.

Three other fired officers still face trial.

The Rise And Remember George Floyd celebration, including a candlelight vigil at 8pm, caps several days of marches, rallies and panel discussions about his death and where America is in confronting racial discrimination.

In New York City, elected officials including Mayor Bill de Blasio and US Representative Hakeem Jeffries joined the Rev. Al Sharpton in kneeling for nine minutes and 29 seconds to commemorate Floyd’s death.

“As we took a knee, imagine how long that was on a human being’s neck,” Mr Sharpton said.

“Never switched knees, just dug in.

“It’s time we correct policing in this country.”

Many members of the Floyd family were in Washington, DC, and planned to meet with President Joe Biden, who called family members after the Chauvin verdict and pledged to continue fighting for racial justice.

Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump said he hoped Mr Biden would renew his support for policing reform named for George Floyd that would ban chokeholds and no-knock police raids and create a national registry for officers disciplined for serious misconduct.

“Now is time to act,” Mr Crump said Tuesday on CNN.

“Not just talk but act.”

Floyd’s brother Philonise, appearing alongside Mr Crump, said he thinks about George “all the time.”

“My sister called me at 12 o’clock last night and said ’This is the day our brother left us,’” he said, adding: “I think things have changed.

“I think it is moving slowly but we are making progress.”