George Floyd was an African American man born in 1973 in North Carolina and raised in Houston, Texas. He grew up poor, faced systemic racism throughout his life, struggled with substance abuse, and had past convictions. Floyd moved to Minneapolis in 2017 to start anew, working as a truck driver and security guard. He became widely known after his murder on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis during an arrest when a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for over nine minutes, leading to Floyd's death. His last words, "I can't breathe," became a rallying cry for protests against police brutality and systemic racism across the United States and globally. Floyd's death sparked one of the largest movements for racial justice in recent history, emphasizing the ongoing issues of discrimination and police violence toward Black people. Before his death, he was remembered by many as a gentle giant, a man of faith, and a community member striving for a better life despite hardships.