'Easy to forget'

Protests marking Floyd's death have also been planned in a handful of other US cities, including Chicago and Dallas, but no major rallies were expected.

In Minneapolis, some people cried and others laid flowers or stuffed animals by the roadside spot where Floyd's fatal arrest was filmed and shared around the world.

"George Floyd may be resting in peace and power, but he's alive through everyone that shows up here," WD Foster-Graham, an author who grew up in the same neighborhood, told AFP Sunday.

"It can be very easy to forget, but as one person to another, make sure we never forget and let those powers that be know we haven't forgotten, and we're not going away," the 73-year-old added.

Jamie Dencklau, 30, said it was important to show that Floyd's death was not just a "moment in time."

But the nonprofit worker from Minneapolis said she was upset about Trump, who has a track record of racially charged rhetoric and heavy support from far-right figures.

"It's disheartening to see that our country has elected this individual as our president, and it really makes me question how important equity and inclusivity are to our community," she said.

Memorial events have been held annually since Floyd's death and the theme for this one – "The People Have Spoken" – was suggested by Nelson Mandela's grandson Nkosi when he visited the square, according to Floyd's aunt Harrelson.

She said the defiant title was meant to reflect five years of protesting, adding that "even though it's tiresome, we go on."

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