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Alabama man finishes 1,000-mile walk to George Floyd memorial in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — An Alabama man has walked 1,000 miles to Minnesota to promote racial justice following the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd. 

According to WCCO-TV and The Associated Press, Terry Willis, 35, of Huntsville, began his protest walk June 2, one week after Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody. Willis arrived at the site of Floyd's death, which is now a memorial, on Sunday.

In a statement posted on the 1K Mile March Facebook page last week, Willis said the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery inspired his trek. 

“It made me feel a plethora of mixed emotions: angry, frustrated, confused, sad,” the statement read. “This could’ve been me, my family or friends. I knew I had to do something.”

Willis added that he was "marching for change, justice and equality."

“I’d like to do my part by joining the fight for my brothers and sisters across this country, starting with George,” he said in the statement.

Almost there.

Posted by Terry Willis on Sunday, July 5, 2020

On Sunday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a proclamation honoring Willis.

Simply amazing.

Posted by 1K Mile March on Sunday, July 12, 2020

"Today is Terry Willis Day in honor of the man who walked 1000 miles to highlight the fight for change & equality after the killing of George Floyd," Frey tweeted Sunday night, urging state lawmakers to pass police reforms. 

Read more here or here.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.