Three siblings of George Floyd have asked their brother, Philonise Floyd, to provide a detailed account of donations raised through a GoFundMe campaign established following Floyd’s death in 2020.
George Floyd was a 46-year-old Black American man whose death in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, 2020, sparked widespread protests against police brutality and racial injustice in the United States and other countries.
Six years after his death, his siblings — Zsazsa Floyd, LaTonya Floyd and Rodney Floyd — are now seeking financial records from their brother, Philonise Floyd, showing how funds raised through the campaign and memorial were received, managed and distributed.
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According to a report by TMZ, a lawyer representing the three siblings sent Philonise Floyd a letter on August 11 requesting documents relating to the fundraiser.
Fundraiser Raised Millions
The campaign, launched after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020, attracted donations from hundreds of thousands of people.
GoFundMe said more than 500,000 people contributed to the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund, which raised $14.7 million, according to the platform’s 2020 year-end report.
However, the August 11 letter reportedly cited by TMZ puts the amount collected at about $19 million.
The differing figures have been attributed to different accounts or points in the fundraiser’s history.
Siblings Request Financial Records
The three siblings are seeking GoFundMe reports, bank and account statements, transaction records, tax documents and other financial information connected to the campaign.
The siblings reportedly said they had previously requested information about the management and distribution of the funds but had not received the records they were seeking.
The letter reportedly gave Philonise Floyd 20 days from receipt to provide the requested documentation.
The siblings also maintain that they are among George Floyd’s heirs and believe they have not received what they regard as their appropriate share of the funds.
That position is part of the family dispute and does not, by itself, establish how the funds were legally required to be distributed.
Purpose of the Fundraiser
The fundraiser was initially intended to support George Floyd’s family with expenses following his death.
Philonise Floyd had previously said the money would help cover funeral and burial expenses, counselling, travel related to court proceedings and other family needs.
According to the report, part of the funds was also intended for Floyd’s estate to support his children and their education.
The campaign attracted nearly $13 million from almost 500,000 donations within little more than a week of its launch, according to TMZ.
Dispute Over Transparency
The current dispute centres on how the funds were handled and distributed after the campaign raised millions of dollars.
Rodney Floyd reportedly said the family wants access to the financial records to understand how decisions concerning the money were made.
The siblings have also reportedly sought information from attorney Ben Crump but said they did not receive a response.
The three family members are now seeking an accounting of the fundraiser and documentation showing how the donations were managed.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.