‘We’ll be able to breathe’ after conviction, George Floyd’s brother says after vigil outside Derek Chauvin murder trial
George Floyd’s family is going through a difficult time but will “be able to breathe” again if ex-cop Derek Chauvin is found guilty of killing the unarmed Black man, one of Floyd’s brothers said Tuesday following a prayer outside the Minneapolis courthouse where the officer’s trial is taking place.
Philonise Floyd told reporters during a break in the trial that it’s been a painful experience for his family to watch the proceedings, which have featured emotional witness testimony and numerous replays of the graphic footage showing Floyd’s final moments last spring.
“We’re going through hard times right now and we need people on our side to help us get through this,” he said while standing next to the Rev. Al Sharpton, who led the prayer, as well as civil rights attorney Ben Crump, former New York Gov. David Paterson and other supporters and members of the family, including Eric Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr.
“It’s like trying to squeeze water out of a rock right now. But my family, we have faith,” Philonise Floyd said. “We’re going to get through this. But one thing I can tell you, me and Ms. Gwen Carr, after we get the verdict and we get this conviction, we’ll be able to breathe.”
Chauvin, who was caught on video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes on May 25, could spend up to four decades in prison if convicted. Witness testimony in the case began last week and multiple bystanders, paramedics and fellow police officers have taken the stand so far. Some of the witnesses, including an off-duty firefighter who repeatedly asked Chauvin to check Floyd’s pulse, broke down in tears while watching the horrific videos.
The images and testimony have brought back painful memories to the Floyd family, Crump told reporters on Tuesday.
“They have been listening to this over and over again. It causes them and many people to suffer P.T.S.D.,” Crump said, using the acronym for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Before leading the prayer, Sharpton said he wanted to do so in public to “set a tone of healing” since “so many people are suffering anxiety” watching the trial.
“We pray for not only the family’s strength, we pray for people around the country that is suffering with them,” Sharpton said as the group held hands outside the courthouse.
“We wept through many cases from Rodney King to Eric Garner to Michael Brown. Some never reached the courthouse,” he said. “But here we are now, in the shadows of a courthouse, praying for justice.”
Paterson, who was New York’s first Black governor, did not speak at the news conference but issued a statement Monday announcing his visit to Minneapolis.
“If a picture is worth a thousand words, then that nine minute and 29 second video is worth a billion. And they are all tragic,” he said. “George Floyd deserved far better than what we all witnessed. Tomorrow I will join with so many others to demand justice and try to prevent the need to attend any more of these vigils in the future.”
