US protests: George Floyd’s brother tell congress to ‘stop the pain’

Philonise Floyd has challenged the US congress to ‘stop the pain’ so that his brother George wouldn’t be just ‘another name’ on a list of those killed by police.

Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, describes the pain of losing his brother as he testifies during a house committee hearing. Picture: AP

Philonise Floyd has challenged the US congress to “stop the pain” so that his brother George wouldn’t be just “another name” on a growing list of those killed during interactions with police.

Mr Floyd’s appearance before a house hearing came a day after ­funeral services for his bother, the 46-year-old Minnesota man whose death has become a worldwide symbol in demonstrations over calls for changes to police practices and an end to racial ­prejudices.

“I’m here today to ask you to make it stop. Stop the pain,” Mr Floyd told the silenced hearing room.

Choking back tears, he said he wanted to make sure his brother, who he called “Perry”, was “more than another face on a ­T-shirt. More than another name on a list that won’t stop growing.”

Mr Floyd directly challenged politicians to step up. “The people marching in the streets are telling you enough is enough. Be the leaders that this country, this world, needs. Do the right thing,” he said.

House judiciary committee chairman Jerrold Nadler gavelled in the session as Democrats review the Justice in Policing Act, a far-ranging package of proposals amid a national debate on policing and racial inequity in the US.

Politicians will also hear testim­ony from civil rights and law-­enforcement leaders at the congressional hearing on proposed changes to police practices and ­accountability after the Minnesota man’s death in police custody and the worldwide protests­ that followed.

“Today we answer their call,” Mr Nadler said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi watched from the hearing audience and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy joined on the dais.

Republicans are rushing to draft their own proposal but also criticising calls from activists across the country who want to “defund the police” — a catch-all term for reforming law enforcement, but one that US President Donald Trump and his allies have seized on to portray Democrats as extreme.

“The American people understand that it’s time for a real discussion,” said Ohio Republican Jim Jordan.

He said what they also understood was that “it is pure insanit­y to defund the police”.

Majority leader Mitch McConnell struck a new tone and ­acknowledged that almost all ­Senate Republicans, unlike Democrats, were white.

“None of us have had the ­experience of being an African- American in this country and dealing with this discrimination,” said Senator McConnell, who is up for re-election at November’s poll.

“I think the best way for the Senate Republicans to go forward on this is to listen to one of our own, who’s had these experiences,” he said referring to Tim Scott, the lone black Republican senator.

Senator McConnell spoke after Senator Scott had finished briefing colleagues on his proposed legislation, which in part would establish a national database for police misconduct.

The legislation is part of a burst of Republican bills on the subject. Rand Paul wants to stop sending surplus US military equipment to local law enforcement, and Mitt Romney is backing several bipartisan bills to change police practices.

AP