In the wake of his brother George’s death at the hands of police, Philonise Floyd testified Wednesday before Congress. Floyd told Congress that his brother “didn’t deserve to die over $20,” referencing the alleged counterfeit bill that police had been called out over. In an impassioned speech, Philonise Floyd called on lawmakers to finally establish what he sees as long-awaited law enforcement reform.
George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on Memorial Day sparked widespread protest movements in the United States. While Black Lives Matter protests are nothing new in the US, the current wave has attracted significantly higher turnout, and notably more support. The wave of support behind the movement is more than just domestic, with marches in solidarity occurring from Europe to Australia.
Speaking before Congress, Philonise Floyd stated “George always made sacrifices for his family. And he made sacrifices for complete strangers. He gave the little that he had to help others. He was our gentle giant. I was reminded of that when I watched the video of his murder.
“He called all the officers ‘sir.’ He was mild mannered, he didn’t fight back. He listened to all the officers. The men who took his life, who suffocated him for eight minutes and 46 seconds. He still called them ‘sir’ as he begged for his life.”
Floyd went on, saying his brother’s death brought him a type of pain he simply couldn’t explain to the lawmakers. “I’m tired. I’m tired of pain, the pain you feel when you watch something like that. When you watch your big brother who you looked up to for your whole entire life die, die begging for his mom. I’m here to ask you to make it stop. Stop the pain. Stop us from being tired.”
Protests against police brutality and inequality have occurred daily in cities across the country since George Floyd’s death. The pain and frustration clear in Philonise Floyd’s voice can also be seen in the intensity of the anti-brutality protests.
Many protesters have pointed out that police don’t serve communities, but instead protect private wealth management. The protests have already had a notable impact: all four officers involved in Floyd’s death have been arrested and charged with serious crimes.
In Minneapolis, city officials have vowed to dissolve the police department and start from scratch. In Congress, Democrats have unveiled a sweeping police reform bill that would address issues of training and deadly force. Foremost among the reforms would include a ban on chokeholds, the type of hold that killed Floyd.
