Biden Reflects on George Floyd’s Murder and Calls for Reforms
President Joe Biden recently reflected on the poignant moments he shared with George Floyd’s family while calling on Congress to advance police reform legislation. This call to action coincided with the fourth anniversary of the day Floyd, a Black man, was tragically murdered by a police officer on a Minneapolis street.
In a statement released on Friday, President Biden expressed, “George Floyd should be alive today. His murder shook the conscience of our nation and reminded us that our country has never fully lived up to its highest ideal of fair and impartial justice for all under the law.”
On May 25, 2020, Floyd, a 46-year-old father, met a tragic end as a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his back and neck for over nine agonizing minutes despite Floyd’s poignant cry of “I can’t breathe.” The harrowing plea for mercy as he took his last breath was captured on video, sparking nationwide outrage and protests.
The aftermath of Floyd’s death saw a wave of protests demanding not only justice for him but also advocating for the protection of Black lives against police brutality, as well as urging for reform and enhanced accountability within the law enforcement system.
Last year, Chauvin was found guilty of murder in Floyd’s death, leading to a sentencing of 22½ years in prison for the former Minneapolis police officer. This week, a new lawsuit emerged accusing Chauvin of pinning down a woman and kneeling on her neck in January 2020, mirroring his actions with Floyd just a few months later.
President Biden has maintained close ties with Floyd’s family over the past four years, ensuring that his legacy is honored and pushing for accountability in law enforcement. In his statement, Biden recalled a poignant encounter he had with Floyd’s daughter on the eve of her father’s funeral in 2020.
Quoting Floyd’s daughter, Gianna, Biden shared, “The day before George Floyd’s funeral, his young daughter, Gianna, told me, ‘Daddy changed the world.’ Four years after her father’s murder, there is no doubt that he has.”
The families of individuals who have lost their lives to police violence have been eagerly anticipating Biden’s actions towards advancing police reform and accountability, promises he made during his 2020 presidential campaign. In 2022, Biden signed an executive order to implement portions of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which included bans on chokeholds and no-knock warrants, as well as the establishment of a database to monitor police misconduct.
With these initial steps taken, President Biden is now urging Congress to pass the legislation to further address systemic issues within law enforcement. In his statement, he emphasized the need for congressional action to bring about real and lasting change at both the state and local levels.
“My Administration has made significant progress in implementing this Executive Order, and we will continue our efforts to build public trust and enhance public safety. However, meaningful change will only come when Congress acts,” President Biden stated in Friday’s announcement.
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