♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

♪ >>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, AND THE DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

♪ >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

TUESDAY, MAY 25th, MARKS EXACTLY ONE YEAR SINCE THE TRAGIC DEATH OF GEORGE HARRY FLOYD, JR. FLOYD'S MURDER AT THE HANDS OF FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS TRIGGERED GLOBAL PROTESTS AND A NATIONAL RECKONING OVER RACIAL JUSTICE AND POLICE MISCONDUCT.

BUT FOR FLOYD'S FAMILY, HIS DEATH REPRESENTS AN UNIMAGINABLE PERSONAL LOSS.

MANY OF THEM HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO HIS MEMORY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN.

JOINING US SO HONOR AND REMEMBER GEORGE OR PERRY, AS HIS FAMILY KNEW HIM, ARE HIS AUNTS ANGELA HARRELSON AND MAHALIA JONES.

THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE MAN THEY KNEW AS A LITTLE BOY, THE WORK THEY'RE DOING TO PRESERVE HIS MEMORY AND HOW THEIR FAITH HAS NOURISHED THEM IN THEIR LOSS AS WELL AS THE IMPACT FLOYD HAD ON THE WORLD.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> VERY QUICKLY, FOR OUR AUDIENCE SO THEY ALSO KNOW, MAHALIA, CAN YOU JUST SAY HI TO THE AUDIENCE.

>> HI.

>> ANGELA, IF YOU COULD ALSO SAY HI.

>> HI.

>> SO WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, I DO WANT TO TALK JUST ABOUT YOUR HAPPY MEMORIES OR AT LEAST THE LITTLE BOY, AS I SAID IN THE INTRO, THAT YOU BOTH HAD A CHANCE TO KNOW.

SO FREQUENTLY IN THESE STORIES WE ONLY KNOW THE VERY TRAGIC END.

ANGELA, I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD GIVE US A FULLER PICTURE OF PERRY, AS YOU KNEW HIM.

>> I MET PERRY WHEN HE WAS 4 YEARS OLD WHEN MY SISTER CAME TO LIVE WITH US THROUGH HARD TIMES.

PERRY WAS AN ADVENTUROUS KID.

WE DIDN'T HAVE WATER.

WE HAD OUTDOOR TOILETING.

HE WAS ADAPTABLE.

I REMEMBER HIM ON TOP OF THE TREE STUMP WE WERE TRYING TO TEACH HIM HOW TO PUMP THE WATER- HE FELL RIGHT INTO IT.

WE SHOWED HIM OUT TO USE THE OUTHOUSE.

HE NEVER COMPLAINED.

HE JUST DID IT.

HE ADAPTED REALLY, REALLY WELL.

AND TO FAST FORWARD ON, YOU KNOW, AS HE GOT OLDER AND PLAYING SPORTS AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, 6'8", TOO BIG FOR US TO PLAY WITH AND TELL WHAT TO DO.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS A HUMBLE, HUMBLE, HUMBLE GUY.

HE WOULD DO ANYTHING, HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF HIS BACK.

THAT'S HOW PERRY WAS.

ONE OF HIS FAVORITE SAYINGS WAS RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING INGSAYING?

PERRY, ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS TODAY?

RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON.

I MISS HEARING HIM SAY THAT.

HE WAS SO FUNNY.

IT WAS SO FUNNY.

WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BITTY BOY, WE THOUGHT HE LOOKED LIKE FLIP WILSON, THE FAMOUS COMEDIAN, JUST LIKE HIM.

THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR MOMENT WHEN I TOLD MY SISTER, HAVE HIM DO THAT FLIP WILSON ACT.

FLIP WILSON USED TO SAY "WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET."

THAT WAS HIS TAG LINE.

JUST PUT A WIG ON HIM AND HAVE HIM DO IT.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

>> MY SISTER SAID, NO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT TO MY BOY!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND WHEN HE GOT OLDER, DO YOU REMEMBER ME?

HE SAID I THINK I REMEMBER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I SAID, WELL, GOOD, AT LEAST YOU DON'T REALLY REMEMBER IT.

ANYWAY.

>> IT WAS SO FUNNY.

>> WHEN HE GOT OLDER, JUST THE FACT OF BEING HERE, JOKING ABOUT WHAT YOU DOING AUNTIE, LET'S DO THIS TODAY, LET'S DO THAT TODAY.

THOSE ARE JUST FOND MEMORIES.

WE WENT TO HIS MOTHER'S FUNERAL TOGETHER, WE ALL DID.

THAT WAS A TOUGH ONE.

IT WAS A TURNING POINT FOR HIM.

PERRY LOVED CHURCH.

HE READ THE BIBLE ALMOST EVERY DAY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.

HE WAS VERY SPIRITUAL.

>> OF COURSE, I DO WANT TO SET THE SCENE A LITTLE BIT MORE, THOUGH.

OUR SHOW AIRS IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA, AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE HE WAS OVER 100, HE WASN'T THAT OLD.

I SAY THAT SAY THAT STORIES THAT INCLUDE NO RUNNING WATER AND OUTHOUSE, WHERE DO THESE TAKE PLACE JUST SO PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTAND?

>> THIS HAPPENED IN NORTH CAR CAROLINA.

OUR PARENTS WERE SHARECROPPERS.

THERE'S A 12-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US.

PEOPLE TEND TO THINK WE'RE PERRY'S SISTERS, BUT WE'RE HIS AUNTS.

THIS WAS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

WE LIVED THAT LIFESTYLE BECAUSE OUR PARENTS MOST OF THEIR LIFE THEY WERE SHARECROPPERS AND THEY WERE UNEDUCATED AND THAT WAS THE BEST LIFE THEY COULD PROVIDE FOR US AT THAT TIME UNTIL MY FATHER GOT A JOB AS A COOK.

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

MAHALIA, I'D LOVE TO GET SOME OF YOUR MEMORIES OF PERRY AND WHAT HE WAS LIKE.

>> AS I SAID, WE HAD THE MOMENTS WHEN WE DID TEASE HIM ABOUT FLIP WILSON.

HIS MOTHER SISSY ABOUT IT, HIS LOOKING LIKE FLIP WILSON, WE JOKED ABOUT THAT BACK THEN.

HE WAS HUMBLE, YES, SIR, YES, MA'AM.

VERY RESPECTFUL.

MY SISTER RAISED HIM VERY WELL.

LIKE I SAY, HE'S VERY RESPECTFUL.

AND VERY KIND.

>> YOU KNOW, THE STORIES THAT YOU BOTH TELL PAINT A PICTURE OF AN ALL-AMERICAN KID, PERHAPS NOT IN THE SITUATION THAT EVERYONE WOULD THINK OF, BUT IT SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE AN ALL-AMERICAN KID.

BUT AS THE EVENTS AFTER LAST YEAR UNFOLDED, THERE WAS SO MUCH FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, WHO HE WAS AS A MAN, ET CETERA.

AND YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU FOUND HIM TO BE A VERY GOOD PERSON, WHO WASN'T PERFECT AND THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF FOCUS ON WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE THE RIGHT EXAMPLE TO PERHAPS LEAD A MOVEMENT.

SO MAHALIA, I SEE YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT.

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?

>> SO MUCH FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, OH, BUT HE WASN'T PERFECT, THAT WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF MEDIA PUNDITS.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND, THE FAMILY'S INSISTENCE WAS THAT HE WASN'T PERFECT, BUT THAT WASN'T THE POINT.

>> NO.

HE WASN'T PERFECT AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, HE'S BATTLING ADDICTION AND ONGOING, BUT STILL HE WAS A HUMAN BEING AND HE TREATED PEOPLE KIND.

LIKE I SAID, WE ALL HAD OUR MOMENTS, BUT HE WAS A GOOD GUY, HE REALLY WAS.

WHAT HAPPENED -- >> I CAN'T EVEN, YEAH, IMAGINE WHAT THAT'S BEEN LIKE FOR THE FAMILY.

WHAT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU IN REGARDS TO THE WAY THAT HE WAS LOST WAS, HOW DID THE FAMILY THEN TRY TO REACT?

BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST DIGESTING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.

THIS IS ALSO DIGESTING MEDIA INQUIRIES AND YOUR NEPHEW SUDDENLY BECAME IN DEATH ALMOST A GLOBAL CELEBRITY LEADING THIS MOVEMENT.

HOW DID YOU GUYS BEGIN TO EVEN ABSORB THAT AND NAVIGATE IT?

>> IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS VERY OVERWHELMING, I THINK, FOR THE FAMILY, BECAUSE WE WERE ALL IN PAIN OF LOSING HIM DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE WE ALL HAD A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

SO IT WAS KIND OF SURREAL FOR US.

THROUGH UNITY AND HOLDING STRONG TOGETHER, THAT'S REALLY HOW WE ALL MADE IT.

I THINK THE FACT IS THAT WE COME FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, AND PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY PERRY'S HUMBLE.

WE WERE RAISED FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, SO IT WAS THROUGH THE LOVE AND THE UNITY AND THOSE HUMBLIE BEGINNINGS KEPT US GROUNDED AND HELPED US SEE A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, WITH THE MEDIA, PEOPLE POINTING YOU HERE AND POINTING YOU THERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO STAY GROUNDED.

WITH THAT, WE WERE ABLE AS A FAMILY TO STAY FOCUSED AND SAY WE HAVE TO BE HIS VOICE, WE HAVE TO LEAD THE WAY FOR HIM.

IN SOME WAYS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HUMBLE ABOUT THE SUPPORT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SOMETIMES IT'S UNREAL KNOWING THAT HE IS A GLOBAL CELEBRITY.

>> WE DID NOT -- >> WE DID NOT EXPECT ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S LIKE BITTERSWEET IS HOW I WANT TO PUT IT, BECAUSE IT'S SAD AND THE WHOLE WORLD WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, HOW HE DIED.

BUT TO HAVE THE MOVEMENT, PEOPLE FELT WHAT WE FELT AND DEMANDED JUSTICE.

THIS IS REAL.

OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, DO THE RIGHT THING.

IT WAS JUST OVERWHELMING, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY FELT LIKE WHAT WE FELT.

IT'S SO TOUCHING.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT STILL IS.

IT STILL IS, THE SUPPORT THAT PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN US IS VERY MOVING.

>> IT REALLY IS.

>> PEOPLE SAY I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BUT THE MOVEMENT COME OUT OF THIS IS TO POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, FOR EQUALITY, JUSTICE AND EVEN REFORM BILLS AND THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING TOGETHER AND PUSHING IT AND RECOGNIZING THAT RACIAL POLICE BRUTALITY, IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE AND LET THEM KNOW WE GOT TO FIX THIS.

WE GOT TO FIX IT.

WE MAY NOT FIX EVERYTHING, BUT WE CAN WORK ON THE HEART.

SAY HEY MAN, THIS IS WRONG, YOU KNOW.

MAKE THEM RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.

>> YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT THE FAMILY AND, QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY, THROUGH SOMETHING SHOCKING, EARTH SHATTERING AND DEEPLY TRAGIC, DREW ON YOUR FAITH A LOT TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE ALL OF THIS.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD BOTH SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> IT WAS DEFINITELY OUR FAITH.

MY MOTHER WAS A PRAYING ONE, MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A PRAYING ONE.

SOMETIMES IN THAT DARKEST MOMENT, THE FAITH IS ALL THAT WE HAVE.

HOLDING ONTO THAT FAITH AND FAITH IS SOMETHING WHEN YOU'RE HOLDING ONTO IT, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET, BUT YOU'RE HOLDING ONTO IT.

FAITH GIVES US THAT HOPE.

YOU CAN'T HAVE FAITH WITHOUT HOPE.

THAT'S WHAT FAITH DID FOR US.

IT GAVE US THAT HOPE THAT WE NEEDED TO PULL US THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY.

PERRY, HE HUNG IN THERE FOR 9 MINUTES AND 29 SECONDS.

WHEN HE WAS HANGING IN THERE, HE WAS FIGHTING TO LIVE AND THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR HIM.

HE FOUGHT THAT BATTLE.

WHEN I LOOK BACK ON IT BECAUSE HE FOUGHT TO LIVE, THAT WAS HIS BRAVERY.

HE MAY NOT HAVE DIED IN DIGNITY, BUT HE CERTAINLY DIED IN BRAVERY.

HE'S OPENED THE DOOR FOR CHANGE AND FOR THE CHANGES THAT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAPPEN HERE.

LOOKING AT POLICE BRUTALITY MORE INTENSELY AND CAREFULLY, OPENED UP OLD CASES THAT PEOPLE JUST THREW AWAY, POLICE REFORM, LIKE MY SISTER SAID, BANNING CERTAIN CHOKEHOLDS AND NOW LOOKING AT THE GEORGE FLOYD POLICE ACT THAT WE KNOW WILL BE PASSED.

SO GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE CHANGE IS HERE.

>> MAHALIA, I SEE YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

I'M JUST -- >> I'M JUST HERE.

>> NO.

I BELIEVE IT'S STILL GOT TO BE SO INCREDIBLY EMOTIONAL.

I'M WONDERING RELYING ON FAITH TO GET THROUGH SOMETHING THAT'S, AGAIN, SO UNIQUE AND UNIQUELY TRAUMATIZING, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ALLOWED A LOT OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS, YOURSELVES INCLUDE, TO SORT OF FIND YOUR OWN VOICE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, MAHALIA AND ANGELA, BOTH OF YOU HAVE DEDICATED YOURSELVES TO SOCIAL JUSTICE, BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> YES.

ACTUALLY, WE HAVE GARY, WHO'S IN THE NAVY.

GARY JONES.

HE'S IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

HE HAS STEPPED UP TO BE AN ACTIVIST AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF HIM.

WE HAVE MY NIECE, WHO'S ALSO THE COCHAIR OF GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL.

SHE'S OUT THERE HITTING THE PAVEMENT.

WE HAVE, OF COURSE, OTHERS, RODNEY, PJ.

>> WE CALL HIM PJ.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> BRANDON, YOU KNOW, TERRENCE, BRIDGET.

MY BROTHER IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

ALL OF THEM ARE PUTTING IT DOWN.

WE CAN'T BE OFTEN EVERYWHERE TOGETHER, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS CHEERING EACH OTHER ON.

WE HAVE TARA IN HOUSTON.

THERE'S SO MANY MORE I CAN NAME.

I HOPE I DON'T FORGET ANYONE.

WE CAN'T ALL BE TOGETHER, BUT WE'RE FAMILY, WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE DO OUR BEST TO KEEP IN TOTOUCH AND WE'RE CHEERING FOR EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE ALL WANT THE SAME GOAL.

>> HAS THE SOCIAL JUSTICE HELPED WITH THE PROCESSING OF THE TRAUMA?

HAS THAT HELPED TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE AT LEAST DOING SOMETHING SO THAT THIS WASN'T JUST ANOTHER INCIDENT AND YET ANOTHER NAME ADDED TO AN INCREDIBLY TRAGICALLY LONG LIST?

>> IT HAS HELPED ME QUITE A BIT.

I WAS HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS WHEN ALL THIS WASN'T DOWN.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE FAMILY COME, THEN THEY GOT TO GO AWAY.

SO I DIDN'T HAVE A SISTER OR BROTHER HERE.

PERRY WAS LIKE THE CLOSEST FAMILY THAT I HAD HERE.

SO THAT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

BUT AS I GO BACK TO HIS BRAVERY, SEEING HIM MUSTER THE WORDS OUT "I CAN'T BREATHE" AND THAT PAIN, I SAY IF HE CAN DO THAT, I CAN TRY TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE A VOICE FOR HIM.

>> OH YES.

>> YOU KNOW, IF HE CAN SAY THOSE WORDS "I CAN'T BREATHE" HAVING A VOICE, TELLING MR. CHAUVIN "I NEED HELP," YOU KNOW, HE WAS TRYING TO SAY I NEED HELP.

SO THAT'S WHAT I DID.

I JUST WENT OUT THERE AND I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS AND WE STARTED THE GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL AND IT'S NICE AND IT'S A SACRED PLACE.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

I JUST SAY I KNOW I GOT TO DO THIS.

THIS IS FOR PERRY.

THIS IS JUSTICE FOR ALL.

I USED TO WALK OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, I WASN'T REALLY SURE, BUT WHEN WE GOT THAT VERDICT, NOW I WALK OUT THERE WITH A DIFFERENT WALK.

>> OH YEAH, OH YEAH.

>> I WALK OUT WITH A DIFFERENT WALK.

PERRY, WE ALL CAME TOGETHER, WE DID IT, THE COMMUNITY DID IT, MINNESOTA DID IT, THE COUNTRY DID IT, THE WORLD DID IT.

WE DID IT.

AMERICA GOT IT RIGHT THIS TIME.

>> YOU KNOW, AND I'M SURE THAT NEITHER ONE OF YOU SAW A GLOBAL MEMORIAL BEING THE RESULT OF PERRY'S TRAGIC DEATH.

I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF THE MEMORIAL IS DOING, LIKE PRESERVING SOME OF THE AMAZING, IMPASSIONED ARTWORK LEFT AT THE MEMORIAL.

>> OH YES.

SINCE THE UPRISING, YOU KNOW, THE FLOWERS, THE PAINTINGS, THE MURALS, THE ARTWORK, THE DRAWINGS, TEDDY BEARS, RECORDS, THE ALLTYPES OF THINGS THAT COM AND WE PRESERVED THOSE AND WE PUT ABOUT 300 OF THOSE ITEMS IN A POPUP GALLERY.

WE'RE HOPING TO BUILD ON THAT AND HAVE A MUSEUM.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SEND US SCULPTURES.

BEAUTIFUL.

>> WOW.

>> BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE FOR IT.

WE'VE HAD CLOSE TO 3,000 OR 4,000 THINGS WE'VE PRESERVED.

WE HAVE A CONSERVATION PRESERVATION TEAM HELPING US.

AS THE MONEY COME, THEN WE GET MORE MONEY AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET A MUSEUM OUT THERE AT THE SQUARE SO WE CAN PUT THAT BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK OF PRESERVING CONDOLENCES IN THERE.

EVERY ARTWORK HAS A VOICE AND HAS A MESSAGE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE ENOUGH RESOURCES FROM THE CITY TO INVEST IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS WELL?

IS THAT ALSO PART OF THE GOAL OF THE GLOBAL MEMORIAL FUND?

>> OH, WE HOPE SO BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY.

OF COURSE, THAT AREA IS KIND OF LIKE SHUT OFF, YOU KNOW, SO THE COMMUNITY IS PRETTY MUCH HOLDING THAT MEMORIAL.

IT'S LIKE A LIVING MEMORIAL.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR, WORK WITH THE CITY TO HELP US MEET CERTAIN DEMANDS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.

QUITE FEW OF THE DEMANDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MET.

LIKE THE REST OF THE POLICE OFFICERS, THE CONVICTIONS, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE OUT THERE.

BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SEE RESTORATION AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY, PROGRAMS INVOLVED.

WE WANT TO REINVEST INTO THE COMMUNITY, HELP PEOPLE GET JOBS, HELP PEOPLE TRAIN FOR JOBS, GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF VALUE FOR THEMSELVES TO GO ONTO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SYSTEMIC RACISM IS MUCH DEEPER THAN WHAT THEY SAW HAPPEN TO GEORGE FLOYD.

THERE ARE SYSTEMS AND STUFF WE WANT TO HELP PUT IN PLACE TO RESTORE THAT COMMUNITY.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD FOR THE CITY TO HELP US WITH THAT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY WANT THAT TOO.

THEY WANT THAT TOO.

>> MAHALIA, DO YOU SEE THAT AS ALSO PART OF THE GOAL?

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S ALSO, IN ADDITION TO INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S ALSO A RENEWED FOCUS ON LEGISLATION ABOUT POLICE MISCONDUCT.

ARE THOSE ALL THINGS THAT ARE DEFINITELY GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION?

>> OH YES, MOST DEFINITELY.

BECAUSE WHAT HAS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, IT'S GLOBAL.

YOU CAN'T BUT WANT TO DO MORE.

BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, JUST PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, LIKE I SAID, KEEP VOICING, BECAUSE WE NEED THESE THINGS.

>> PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN I DO, HOW CAN I HELP.

SO WE GET SO MANY VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE THAT THEY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME.

YOU SOMETIMES THEIR MONEY.

THEY'RE JUST OUT THERE BEING GATEKEEPERS TO KEEP FROM VANDALIZING.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN AND MAKE SURE NOTHING'S BEING STOLEN.

THERE'S SO MUCH LOVE OUT THERE.

YOU FEEL THE LOVE.

>> SO MUCH LOVE.

>> IT'S A COMMUNITY.

THEY HELP EACH OTHER.

ARE PEOPLE HUNGRY, DO THEY NEED FOOD?

SOMEBODY COME OUT THERE AND BRING A GRILL AND COOK UP SOME RIBS AND STUFF AND FEED THE COMMUNITY.

SOMEBODY STARTED A BOOK DRIVE OUT THERE.

SOMEBODY STARTED A CLOTHING DRIVE OUT THERE.

THEY HAVE A FOOD DRIVE OUT THERE SOMETIMES.

THEY HAVE A CHURCH RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET THAT VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME.

SO WE'RE HELPING EACH OTHER.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, A FIGHT HAPPENS, WE HAVE THE MOVEMENT.

THESE ARE STRONG BLACK MEN, MEN THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT, MEN THAT HAVE BEEN FORMER GANG MEMBERS.

THESE ARE MEMBER THAT WILL STEP UP AND ABLE TO TALK AND COMMUNICATE TO THE GANG MEMBERS AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS NOT THE WAY.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE JUST TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER AS AN COMMUNITY, THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE UPRISING.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS SINCE I GREW UP, WE TRULY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

>> WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR TIME.

WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TRULY TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER, ANGELA, WHAT I FIND SO AMAZING AND SO INSPIRING IS THAT BOTH YOU AND MAHALIA HAVE COMMUNICATED YOU DON'T HATE DEREK CHAUVIN AND THAT FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER CHAUVIN AND YOU BOTH SEE HATE AND SEEING PEOPLE AS LESS THAN HUMAN IS WHAT LED TO PERRY'S DEATH IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IF YOU COULD BOTH JUST VERY QUICKLY TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO NOT HOLD ONTO THAT HATE, BECAUSE I THINK SO MANY OF US, WHEN WE SAW THAT AND ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE OUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS IN THAT POSITION, TO NOT HOLD ONTO THAT HATE SEEMS INSPIRATIONAL AND MAYBE EVEN SUPER HUMAN.

>> WE WEREN'T RAISED UP TO HATE PEOPLE.

IT COMES FROM OUR BACKGROUND.

BUT HATE KEEPS YOU IN A DARK PLACE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T HATE MR. CHAUVIN.

I DON'T HATE HIM.

I DON'T LIKE WHAT HE DID TO MY NEPHEW, BUT I DON'T HATE HIM.

I'VE SEEN WHAT HATE HAS DONE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THESE BLACK MEN THAT WERE KILLED LIKE EMMETT TILL BECAUSE OF HATE AND JESSIE WASHINGTON.

H HATE IS A SPECTATOR EVENT FOR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MOCKING THESE PEOPLE AND IT LEADS TO THINGS IT SHOULDN'T LEAD TO.

IF YOU FOCUS ON HATE -- >> THERE'S NOEND ENDING.

>> THERE'S NO ENDING.

IT CAN BECOME A MOCKING.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO MOCK MR. CHAUVIN OR MOCK HIS FAMILY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS IS ABOUT CHANGE FOR EQUALITY FOR BETTER FOR ALL.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO THAT DARK PLACE, BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT, THAT GOES TO HATRED.

THEN I'M NO BETTER THAN HE IS.

>> THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL NOTE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT ON.

LADIES, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME FOR THIS INTERVIEW.

AGAIN, FOR THE AUDIENCE WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH ANGELA HARRELSON AND MAHALIA JONES, BOTH AUNTIES OF PERRY, ALSO KNOWN AS GEORGE FLOYD TO THE WORLD.

LADIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOD BLESS YOU.

♪ >>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, AND THE DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

♪