George Floyd's brother says Trump did not give him an opportunity to even speak during call: 'It was so fast'
After President Donald Trump said he had spoken with George Floyd's family "and expressed the sorrow of our entire nation for their loss," Floyd's brother went on record to say that his conversation with the POTUS was "so fast" that he didn't get a chance to speak properly. Philonese Boyd, brother of the African-American victim of police brutality, told MSNBC that when he spoke to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, he did not get time to put his point across. "He didn't give me an opportunity to even speak," Philonise said. "It was hard. I was trying to talk to him, but he just kept, like, pushing me off, like 'I don't want to hear what you're talking about.' And I just told him, I want justice. I said that I couldn't believe that they committed a modern-day lynching in broad daylight. I asked Vice President Biden -- I never had to beg a man before -- but I asked him, could he please, please get justice for my brother. I need it. I do not want to see him on a shirt just like the other guys. Nobody deserved that. Black folk don't deserve that. We're all dying. Black lives matter."
He added, breaking into tears: "It hurt me. I just don’t understand, man. Why we gotta go through this? Why we gotta go through this pain, man? I love my brother. I’m never going to see him again."
Trump offered lengthy remarks on Floyd, who died on May 25 during his arrest after Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin sat on his neck as he lay face down on the ground in handcuffs for eight minutes, on Saturday during his visit to Cape Canaveral, Florida, where SpaceX launched two NASA astronauts into orbit.
"The death of George Floyd in the streets of Minneapolis was a grave tragedy. It should never have happened. It has filled Americans all over the country with horror, anger, and grief. We will stand with the family of George Floyd, with the peaceful protesters, and with every law-abiding citizen who wants decency, civility, safety, and security. Yesterday, I spoke to George's family and expressed the sorrow of our entire nation for their loss," Trump said. "I stand before you as a friend and ally to every American seeking justice and peace, and I stand before you in firm opposition to anyone exploiting this tragedy to loot, rob, and menace. Healing not hatred, justice not chaos are the mission at hand."
He added: "I understand the pain that people are feeling. We support the right of peaceful protests and we hear their pleas, but what we are now seeing on the streets of our cities has nothing to do with the memory of George Floyd. The violence and vandalism is being led by Antifa and other radical left-wing groups who are terrorizing the innocent, destroying jobs, hurting businesses and burning down buildings. The main victims of this horrible, horrible situation are the citizens who live in these once-lovely communities... The mobs are devastating the life's work of good people and destroying their dreams. We support the overwhelming majority of police officers who are incredible in every way and devoted to public service."
Protests have broken out in several American cities against police brutality against African Americans following Floyd's death. The accused officer has been arrested and charged with murder.