George Floyd’s brother to US Congress: ‘Stop the pain,’ advance reforms

The brother of George Floyd, whose killing by police sparked worldwide protests against racism, tells the US Congress to “stop the pain” by passing reforms to address and reduce police brutality.

One day after burying his brother in Houston, Philonise Floyd appears in person before a House hearing, where he describes the anguish of watching a video of George’s death and demands lawmakers address the systemic problems in law enforcement.

“I’m here to ask you to make it stop. Stop the pain,” the younger Floyd says, wiping his forehead and holding back tears.

“I can’t tell you the kind of pain you feel when you watch… your big brother, who you looked up to your whole entire life, die — die begging for his mom,” he adds.

“George called for help and he was ignored. Please listen to the call I’m making to you now, to the call of our family and the calls ringing out in the streets across the world,” says Floyd, who wore an anti-virus mask bearing an image of his brother.

“Maybe by speaking with you today, I can make sure that his death will not be in vain.”

George Floyd, 46, died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, when a white officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.

Video of the shocking abuse went viral, and protests — some violent, most peaceful — erupted from coast to coast in some of the most serious US civil unrest in generations.

The testimony came shortly after congressional Democrats unveiled a package of sweeping reforms aimed at reducing systemic racism in US law enforcement.

— AFP