Philonise Floyd asks Congress to deliver justice for his brother

Philonise Floyd said Wednesday that he's seeking only one thing from Congress in the wake of his brother's killing two weeks ago: "Justice for George."

Floyd spoke the words Wednesday morning in the Capitol as he headed into a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee to examine police brutality and Congress's role in preventing it.

Once the hearing began, he offered an emotional opening statement as he described watching the video of his brother's death. A Minneapolis police officer, who has since been fired and charged with second-degree murder, pinned George Floyd to the street for nearly nine minutes by placing his knee on Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.

"I couldn’t take care of George that day he was killed," Philonese Floyd testified. "But maybe by speaking with you today, I can make sure that his death would not be in vain."

"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 out in the streets across the world."

Floyd said that, "I can't tell you the kind of pain you feel" while watching a video like the one of his brother's death.

"I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to Perry while he was here. I was robbed of that," Floyd said, referring to his brother with a nickname, as he tried to hold back tears.

Floyd's death — the latest in a string of unarmed African Americans killed in encounters with police — has led to days of protests across the nation calling for police reforms.

Congressional leaders of both parties have vowed tougher laws aimed at reining in racial profiling and police brutality.