In a powerful speech delivered during a prayer vigil Monday, George Floyd’s younger brother Terrence called on protesters to demonstrate peacefully, rebuking the riots that have broken out across the country.
George Floyd was killed one week ago by a former Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly 10 minutes, until he died. Mr. Floyd was unarmed and cooperative. The officer has since been arrested and charged with murder.
Since then, protests have broken out. While there have been countless peaceful demonstrations, there have been numerous violent riots around the U.S.
Terrence Floyd’s speech — the continuation of his message of peace — called an immediate end to the violence.
He equated the violent riots to drinking, explaining it “might feel good for the moment, but when you come down, you’re gonna wonder what you did.”
“My family is a peaceful family,” Terrence Floyd said. “My family is God-fearing. Yeah, we’re upset. But we’re not gonna take it, we’re not gonna be repetitious.”
“Do this peacefully, please,” he continued. “My brother moved [to Minneapolis] from Houston, and I used to talk to him on the phone. He loved it here. … I highly doubt — no, I know — he would want y’all to be doing this.”
Terrence Floyd made similar calls for peace on ABC News.