Philonise Floyd, a brother of George Floyd, challenged Congress to "stop the pain" during an appearance at a House Judiciary hearing on policing practices.
During his opening statement, Philonise Floyd recalled watching the bystander video of his brother's arrest — the video that shows a police officer kneeling on his neck for more than eight minutes. George Floyd later died in police custody.
"I can't tell you the kind of pain you feel when you watch something like that. When you watch your big brother, who you looked up to your whole entire life die, die begging for his mom?" Philonise Floyd said. "I'm tired. I'm tired of pain. Pain you feel when you watch something like that."
Police originally took George Floyd into custody for allegedly using a countefeit $20 bill to buy to but tobacco at a Minneapolis convenience store.
"He didn't deserve to die over $20," Philonise Floyd said. "I'm asking you, is that what a black man's worth? Twenty dollars? This is 2020. Enough is enough."
He added that he hoped his brother's death would not be in vain.
"Please listen to the call I'm making to you now. To the calls of our family and the calls ringing out the streets across the world," Philonise Floyd said. "People of all backgrounds, genders and races have come together to demand change. Honor them. Honor George and make the necessary changes that make law enforcement the solution and not the problem."
Floyd is one of about a dozen witnesses to testify during the hearing Wednesday. He'll be joined by Floyd family attorney Benjamin Crump. Other civil rights and activist leaders are also expected to testify.
Also expected to testify are Dan Bongino — a former Secret Service agent and ally of President Donald Trump — and other supporters of current police practices, according to ABC News.
The hearing comes a day after George Floyd was buried in Houston as largely peaceful demonstrations continue in his name in dozens of major cities across the country. Floyd died in police custody on Memorial Day after bystander video showed a police officer, Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for more than eight minutes. Four officers face charges in connection with Floyd's death, including Chauvin, who faces a second-degree murder charge.
The hearing also comes after Democrats introduced the Justice in Policing Act — a bill that proposes several changes to policing practices in the wake of Floyd's death. Among the changes proposed in the legislation is the limiting of legal protections for police, the creation of a national database of excessive-force incidents and the banning of police choke holds.
