George Floyd’s brother on arresting officers: ‘They took a life now they deserve life’

The family of George Floyd appeared on CNN Tonight With Don Lemon, Tuesday evening. Floyd died while handcuffed and in police custody, and video emerged showing that one of the arresting officers knelt on his neck for several minutes despite his gasping pleas for help. “They could have tased him, maced him,” said Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd. “Instead, they put their knee in his neck and just sat on him and didn't care at all.” While battling through his tears, Floyd’s brother shared his thoughts on the arresting officers involved. “They took a life now they deserve life.” Floyd’s brother also believes that if the roles were reversed, the officers would feel the same way. Floyd’s brother said, “They're at home and sleeping with their wives, they have kids. If something like that happened to them, they would be just like me.” Floyd’s cousin, Tera Brown also weighed in on the arresting officers actions, saying, “We want to see them charged with murder and we want them to be convicted...They need to pay for what they did.”

Video Transcript

PHILONISE FLOYD: They could've tased him. They could've maced him. Instead, they put their knee in his neck and just sat on him and didn't care at all. He screamed, Mama, Mama, I can't breathe, I can't breathe. And just didn't care.

KYLIE MAR: On Monday, George Floyd died while handcuffed and in police custody, and on Tuesday, some of his family joined Don Lemon on "CNN Tonight, " where George's brother Philonise made it clear how he felt about the officers involved in the arrest.

PHILONISE FLOYD: They took a life, now they deserved life. I don't feel sorry for them. They hurt me and they hurt my family. I can't take nothing back. I can't get my brother back. They at home, they asleep. They with their wife, they got kids. If something like that happened to them, they'll be just like me.

KYLIE MAR: After a video emerged showing one of the police officers kneeling on George's neck despite his pleas for help, protests had erupted and many celebrity activists, such as basketball superstar LeBron James and legendary rapper Snoop Dogg, have condemned the actions. And George's cousin Tera Brown says it's important that those involved be held fully accountable.

TERA BROWN: We want to see them charged with murder, and we want them to be convicted. We want them arrested. They need to pay for what they did.