George Floyd vigil in Houston planned for Saturday to honor his life

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- After an emotional 24 hours for America, there are plans to honor George Floyd's life in his hometown.

Floyd grew up in Houston's Third Ward.

After ex-Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin was convicted on all counts in Floyd's death Tuesday afternoon, a Black Lives Matter vigil was held at MacGregor Park in Third Ward, where the discussion focused on what happens next.

The guilty verdict against Chauvin is viewed as one victory in a series of fights for justice for people of color in the U.S., particularly when it comes to violent altercations with the police.

Some of Floyd's friends attended the gathering at the park Tuesday night, but another man's family was also in the crowd.

Jose Campos Torres died in Houston police custody in 1977. It was Cinco de Mayo when he was brutally beaten by a group of officers and then dumped into the bayou while handcuffed.

His family spoke with ABC13 about what the guilty verdict in the Floyd case means to them.

"I know what the family will go through right now... 10 years from now, I know how they would feel. I was 10 years old when this happened to me. When this happened to my family, I was 10 years old. 10 years old. I'm in my middle 50s now, and I'm still here. Fighting. Still here fighting," Torres' sister Janie said.

A vigil for Floyd is planned for this Saturday at 2 p.m. at MacGregor Park at the MLK statue.

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