Houston is the gateway to East Texas, and with the funeral service for George Floyd this past Tuesday, the city, for a few short hours at least, became the focus of a national movement against police violence and systemic racism.

Signs of this new energy have been steadily growing in East Texas since video emerged showing a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25, leading to his death at the age of 46.

On the Saturday before Floyd's burial, protesters were rallying in Bergfeld Park in the city of Tyler, Texas, roughly 200 miles north of Houston.

Karen Thomason marches against police violence at the Henderson County Courthouse Square in the East Texas city of Athens.

Lee Hancock/NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Lee Hancock/NPR

Karen Thomason marches against police violence at the Henderson County Courthouse Square in the East Texas city of Athens.