George Floyd's brother tells Congress make sure my brother's death 'isn't in vain'

George Floyd's younger brother, Philonise Floyd, testified Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee on police practices and law enforcement accountability, telling members, "It is on you to make sure his death isn’t in vain." 

He spoke about two weeks after George Floyd was died after being arrested by Minneapolis police officer, sparking a nationwide wave of protests against police brutality. 

Floyd described the anguish he and his family experienced watching the video of his brother losing consciousness after an officer kneeled on his brother's neck during the May 25 arrest.

"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’ve looked up to your whole life, die, die begging for your mom," Floyd said in an emotional plea for change to police procedures. "It is on you to make sure his death isn’t in vain." 

Angela Underwood Jacobs, the sister of Patrick Underwood, a black federal officer killed during riots in Oakland, is also addressing the committee. She has called his killing an act of "blind violence that snatched the life of my brother from all of us." 

She also spoke about the need for jobs and education in all American communities."We need to create more jobs, that in turn will create more economic justice for all Americans," said Underwood Jacobs. 

The hearing opened with comments by committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-New York) and top Republican member Rep. Jim Jordan.

Jordan emphasized the difference between peaceful protesting in the wake of Floyd's brutal death and the riots and violent chaos that also broke out last week. 

"There is certainly a big difference between peaceful protestors and killing police officers," the Ohio congressman said. 

Jordan also reprimanded his colleagues across the aisle for not speaking out against the idea of defunding the police that has picked up significant traction in the last days. 

"They know it is pure insanity to defund the police and the fact that my Democrat colleagues won't speak out against that is frightening," he said.

California Democrat Rep. Karen Bass, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke about the history of police brutality in her state and the country. She said protests "minus a few days of violence have been peaceful.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) spoke about the inherent equality of human life upon which American life if founded. 

"Our value is inherent because it comes to us by our creator," he said.

Johnson later spoke about the perception and behavior of the majority of police officers in the nation. 

"Most are faithful, self-sacrificing public servants who put their lives on the line every single day to protect and serve our communities. We need to honor them, and we need to recognize and empower those law enforcement officers, which is precisely the opposite of the radical, dangerous proposals we're seeing right now to defund them," he said.

He continued, "A government of, by and for the people must be a nation of law and order."