The name Philonise Floyd has adorned the marquee of the Flynn Center for Performing Arts this week, where he plans to speak in front of an audience about what happened to his brother, George Floyd. It will mark the first time Philonise has spoken in front of a large audience about the 2020 murder that sparked social justice movements around the world. He is still new to occupying the role of a social activist but described a need to continue speaking about the incident. “I feel like I have to speak up on the issue. I’m just tired,” Philonise said. “There is no way to stop the pain unless you talk about it to others and let them know exactly how you feel.” Having appeared on national television and in countless newspapers describing the murder, he said the discussions still bring on a wave of emotions.Those feelings carry when speaking about former police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee into the neck of George Floyd for eight minutes and 46 seconds — a time that has since become associated with the murder and police brutality. “He failed as a police officer, he failed as an American citizen to just be able to communicate,” Philonise Floyd said, speaking on Chauvin. “That’s the easiest thing in the world.”Philonise Floyd added, “There is nothing you can say that the video didn’t show. He said, ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.’ He never cursed him out, never did anything.”Philonise was invited to speak in Vermont by the Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center with the goal of sharing his story and keeping a conversation going on how to be better to one another. He said he’s also hopeful to solidify his brother’s legacy as one full of life, not just a cell phone video of his death. “I don’t want my brother’s legacy to die as just the person who was killed,” Philonise Floyd said. “When they think about George, I want them to think about life.”Even following his death, Philonise points his focus on the wave of social justice movements and activism that took place as a result. “The fact that he can get people to come together from all ’round the world,” Philonise said. “The fact that he can start to get people voting, and understand that I need to start in my communities.”Philonise and his wife have started a foundation of their own — The Philonise and Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change — which aims to eliminate the daily impacts of police brutality and systemic racism.
The name Philonise Floyd has adorned the marquee of the Flynn Center for Performing Arts this week, where he plans to speak in front of an audience about what happened to his brother, George Floyd.
It will mark the first time Philonise has spoken in front of a large audience about the 2020 murder that sparked social justice movements around the world. He is still new to occupying the role of a social activist but described a need to continue speaking about the incident.
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“I feel like I have to speak up on the issue. I’m just tired,” Philonise said. “There is no way to stop the pain unless you talk about it to others and let them know exactly how you feel.”
Having appeared on national television and in countless newspapers describing the murder, he said the discussions still bring on a wave of emotions.
Those feelings carry when speaking about former police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee into the neck of George Floyd for eight minutes and 46 seconds — a time that has since become associated with the murder and police brutality.
“He failed as a police officer, he failed as an American citizen to just be able to communicate,” Philonise Floyd said, speaking on Chauvin. “That’s the easiest thing in the world.”
Philonise Floyd added, “There is nothing you can say that the video didn’t show. He said, ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.’ He never cursed him out, never did anything.”
Philonise was invited to speak in Vermont by the Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center with the goal of sharing his story and keeping a conversation going on how to be better to one another. He said he’s also hopeful to solidify his brother’s legacy as one full of life, not just a cell phone video of his death.
“I don’t want my brother’s legacy to die as just the person who was killed,” Philonise Floyd said. “When they think about George, I want them to think about life.”
Even following his death, Philonise points his focus on the wave of social justice movements and activism that took place as a result.
“The fact that he can get people to come together from all ’round the world,” Philonise said. “The fact that he can start to get people voting, and understand that I need to start in my communities.”
Philonise and his wife have started a foundation of their own — The Philonise and Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change — which aims to eliminate the daily impacts of police brutality and systemic racism.
