George Floyd’s six-year-old daughter has made a powerful statement about her late father’s impact on the world as people around the globe continue to protest his killing by a white police officer.
Floyd, 46, was killed last week when a former Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck for more than eight minutes. The 46-year-old’s death has since prompted global marches and protests against police brutality and racism.
On Tuesday Stephen Jackson, a former NBA player and long-time friend of Floyd’s, shared a video showing Floyd’s daughter Gianna sitting on his shoulders and saying: “Daddy changed the world!”
“Daddy changed the world!” Gianna can be heard exclaiming while smiling, as Jackson added: “That’s right, Daddy changed the world.”
“That’s right GiGi 'Daddy changed the world,’” Jackson captioned the video on Instagram. “George Floyd the name of change. #justiceforgeorgefloyd #ivehadenough Love to all who have love for all.”
Thousands of people have commented under the clip, sharing their condolences for Floyd and Gianna.
“Sending love her way, glad she knows his death meant something,” one commented.
Another said: “That’s all she needs to remember. We’ve got your back Gianna.”
During an appearance alongside her mother Roxie Washington on Good Morning America on Wednesday, the six-year-old also said she wants people to know that she “misses” her father.
“I miss him… he played with me,” Gianna said.
According to Washington, Gianna doesn’t know the circumstances around her father’s death, just that she can “hear them saying my daddy's name”.
“She doesn't know what happened. I told her that her dad died because he couldn't breathe,” Washington said.
Earlier in the week, Washington mourned the loss of her daughter’s father, and all the special moments that Floyd would miss out on, while speaking at a press conference in Minneapolis.
"I don't have a lot to say, because I can't get my words together right now," Washington said. "But I want everybody to know that this is what those officers took. At the end of the day, they get to go home and be with their families. Gianna does not have a father. He will never see her grow up, graduate; he will never walk her down the aisle.
“If there's a problem she's having and she needs her dad, she does not have that anymore. I'm here for my baby, and I'm here for George because I want justice for him. I want justice for him 'cause he was good. No matter what anybody thinks, he was good.”
