(Photo courtesy: Julio Cortez | Credit: AP)
A brother of George Floyd says he is testifying to Congress to ensure that his brother’s death is “more than another name” on a growing list of those killed during interactions with police.
Philonise Floyd is testifying Wednesday at a congressional hearing on proposed changes to police practices and accountability.
According to his prepared remarks, Floyd says he hopes his brother's death ends up changing the world for the better.
He later testified, "I'm tired! I'm tired of pain. Pain you feel when you watch something like that. When you watch your big brother, who you looked up to for your whole 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. George called for help and he was ignored. Please listen to the call I'm making to you now."
Later he added, "Yesterday we laid him to rest. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I'm the big brother now so it's my job to comfort my brothers and my sisters, Perry's kids, and everyone who loved him, and that's a lot of people."
George Floyd's death in police custody in Minneapolis has sparked worldwide protests, becoming a galvanizing symbol in calls for change and an end to racial prejudice.
House Democrats have proposed the Justice in Policing Act, a sweeping package of changes in police oversight and accountability.
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Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Police Department is withdrawing from police union contract negotiations.
It’s the first step in what Chief Medaria Arradondo said would be transformational reforms to the agency in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
Arradondo said Wednesday that a thorough review of the contract is planned.
He said the contract needs to be restructured to provide more transparency and flexibility for true reform.
The review would look at matters such as critical incident protocols, use of force, and disciplinary protocols including grievances and arbitration.
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