George Floyd's brother: 'After we get this verdict and we get this conviction, we’ll be able to breathe'

Rev. Al Sharpton leads prayer for justice for George Floyd

Rev. Al Sharpton led the family of George Floyd in a prayer for justice outside the Hennepin County Courthouse Tuesday, where the trial for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged in Floyd's death, is taking place.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Rev. Al Sharpton led the family of George Floyd and others in a prayer Tuesday outside the Hennepin County Courthouse, where the trial of Derek Chauvin is taking place. Chauvin is the former Minneapolis police officer charged in Floyd’s death.

"We wept through many cases from Rodney King to Eric Garner to Michael Brown—some never reached the courthouse," Sharpton said. "But here we are now, in the shadows of a courthouse, praying for justice."

Among the attendees at the prayer were Floyd family attorney Benjamin Crump, Eric Garner’s mother Gwen Carr and former New York Governor David Paterson.

Philonise Floyd says after family gets Chauvin trial verdict, they’ll be able to breate

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, said Tuesday that after his family and others get the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, which he believes will be a conviction, they will be able to breathe. Philonise spoke following a group prayer led by Rev. Al Sharpton outside the Hennepin County Courthouse, where the Chauvin trial is taking place.

Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, spoke following the prayer, saying, "After we get the verdict and we get this conviction, we’ll be able to breathe."

Sharpton, Crump and Carr were all seen inside the courthouse Tuesday morning with some members of the Floyd family, according to the pool reporter. Only one member of the Floyd family is allowed in the courtroom at a time, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Family members have been rotating who takes the seat in the courtroom each day.

Terrance Floyd, another one of George Floyd's brother was in the courtroom for the morning session on Monday. He told pool reporters listening to the testimony is difficult, but his family is staying strong through the trial.

Rev. Al Sharpton and Floyd family kneel for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to honor George Floyd

Rev. Al Sharpton and the Floyd family kneeled for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to honor George Floyd ahead of the Chauvin trial.

Last Monday, on the first official day of the trial, Sharpton, the Floyd family and others kneeled for eight minutes and 49 seconds in remembrance of George Floyd. Eight minutes and 46 seconds is symbolic of the amount of time Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck during his deadly arrest on May 25, 2020, although prosecutors say it was actually nine minutes and 29 seconds.