WASHINGTON, D.C. — The brother of the man whose death sparked nationwide protests gave emotional testimony on Capitol Hill Wednesday, one day after George Floyd’s funeral.
George Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd had a message for his late brother.
"Big brother, you changed the world. Thank you for everything,” Philonise Floyd said.
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Philonise Floyd reminded lawmakers of the now infamous video of the Minneapolis police officer with his knee on his brother’s neck.
"When you watch your big brother who you looked up to your whole entire life die, die begging for his mom. I'm tired. I'm tired of pain,” he said. "It is on you to make sure his death is not in vain."
That pain of losing a sibling was echoed by another witness.
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Angela Underwood Jacobs testified about her brother Dave Patrick Underwood who worked as a federal officer for the Department of Homeland Security.
He was shot and killed while working in California two weeks ago.
"As he took his last breath on the cold, hard cement, after being shot multiple times, he died,” Underwood Jacobs said. "Fear, hatred, ignorance and blind violence snatched the life of my brother Patrick."
During the hearing, Democrats pushed for the new “Justice in Policing Act” introduced this week. The act calls for major police reform.
"If this had been a law last year, George Floyd would be alive because chokeholds would be banned,” Rep. Karren Bass (D-California) said.
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Republicans meanwhile blasted calls to strip law enforcement of its resources.
"It is pure insanity to defund the police,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said.
Witnesses also included civil rights advocates and members of law enforcement.
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