Family of George Floyd vows to fight alongside Daunte Wright's family

KTRK logo
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
George Floyd's family vows to fight for Daunte Wright
"They were both killed over misdemeanors," said Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's younger brother as he compared Wright's case to his brother's. He said he won't leave Wright's family's side.

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minnesota -- In the middle of a monumental trial, Philonise Floyd, the younger brother of George Floyd, said he couldn't help but to be there for the family of Daunte Wright.

Wright was shot in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on Sunday, as the Minneapolis area was already on edge amid the trial of a police officer in Floyd's death.

The police chief has said he believed Officer Kim Potter, who has since resigned, mistakenly grabbed her gun when she was going for her Taser.

READ MORE: Officer who shot Daunte Wright, Brooklyn Center police chief resign

"They were both killed over misdemeanors," said Philonise as he drew a comparison between Wright's case and that of his brother's. "My brother was tortured to death and the officer claims for Daunte ... they thought they were tasing him. There was no need to tase him."

For Philonise and attorney Ben Crump, who will now also represent the Wright family, no weight for justice is too heavy to bare. Both stood alongside the Wright family in a press conference Tuesday.

"The world is traumatized," said Philonise to the crowd.

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said at a news conference that the city had been moving toward firing Potter when she resigned. Elliott said he hoped her resignation would "bring some calm to the community," but that he would keep working toward "full accountability under the law."

"We have to make sure that justice is served, justice is done. Daunte Wright deserves that. His family deserves that," Elliott said.

A decision on whether prosecutors will charge Potter could come as soon as Wednesday. Meanwhile, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul imposed 10 p.m. curfews.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Stefania Okolie on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.