Brooke Williams, niece of the late 46-year-old African- American George Floyd, who died while in police custody last month, says her uncle’s death was not just murder but hate crime.
Speaking during the burial service held for her late uncle at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Texas last Tuesday, Miss Williams, who shared memories of her uncle and events of his final moments, regretted that the four officers showed no remosrse while watching her uncle’s soul leave his body.
She stressed that those four officers were literally on him for nine minutes and none of them showed they have a heart or a soul.
“He begged and pleaded many times just for you to get up but you just pushed harder,” she recalled.
Miss Williams said, “why must the system be so corrupt and broken,”adding that the laws were already put in place for the African-American system to fail and these laws need to be changed.
“No more hate crimes please,” Miss Williams noted.
She said she could not breathe, and for as long as she was breathing, justice will be served for George Perry Floyd.
Miss Williams said her uncle was a brother, father uncle and cousin to many, spiritually grounded, and an activist and thanked all who were mourning with the family for their support.
Philonise Floyd
The late George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, 42, has urged the United States Congress to pass reforms on police brutality and "stop the pain".
He told a House hearing that his brother George could not become "another name on a list".
"I'm here to ask you to make it stop. Stop the pain," an emotional Philonise told lawmakers.
"George called for help and he was ignored. Please listen to the call I'm making to you now, to the calls of our family and the calls ringing on the streets of all the world,” he emphasised.
"The people marching on the streets are telling you enough is enough."
"Be the leaders that this country, this world needs," Mr Floyd said.
Lawmakers
Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee have been listening to testimony from civil rights activists and law enforcement officials, a day after the funeral service of Mr George Floyd.
The committee plans to send a bill to the floor of the Democrat-led House by July 4 on combating police violence and racial injustice, a BBC report has said.
It comes amid a nationwide — and in many cases international — debate on police practices and accountability, and more generally on racial inequity.
Democrat committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said, "We must remember that (George Floyd) is not just a cause, a name to be chanted in the streets. He was a man. He had a family... we mourn his loss."
Republican representative Jim Jordan praised President Donald Trump's response to George Floyd's death and said, "it's time for a real discussion, real debate, real solutions about police treatment of African-Americans".
The Police Chief in Minneapolis, Mr Medaria Arradondo has stated that his department "absolutely" could be reformed and vowed not to let George Floyd's death be in vain.
Source: Daily Graphic
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