president Joe Biden issued a touching statement on the third anniversary George Floyds Death Thursday and called on Congress to pass “meaningful” police reform in the process.
President urges Congress to pass police reform on third anniversary of George Floyd’s death
Biden urged Congress to do so Adoption of a “meaningful” police reform commemorating George Floyd on the third anniversary of the Minnesota man’s death, the Minnesota Star Tribune.
“I’ll sign it,” Biden said Thursday. “But we know that implementing real and lasting change at the state and local levels requires action by Congress. I urge Congress to pass meaningful police reform and send it to my desk.”
He continued, “I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for police accountability in Congress, and I remain willing to work with Republicans and Democrats alike to find real solutions.”
Biden also took to Twitter on Thursday to pay tribute to Floyd’s life and legacy.
“Today America mourns the murder of George Floyd three years later. I will never forget Gianna Floyd’s words: “Dad changed the world.” He did it – uniting people of all races and generations in peace and with the intent to say, “Enough.” Hate can never be a safe haven in America find.”
Today America mourns the murder of George Floyd three years later.
I will never forget Gianna Floyd’s words: “Dad changed the world.”
He did it – to unite people of all races and generations in peace and with the intention to say Enough.
Hatred can never find a safe haven in America. pic.twitter.com/8lrRIkiIMI
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 25, 2023
In addition, Biden also released a statement on the Official White House website.
Equal justice is a covenant we all make with one another. Today, three years after the assassination of George Floyd, let’s build on the progress we’ve made and reconnect with the work we must do each day to change hearts and minds and laws and policies… “
The White House also released a short clip commemorating Floyd’s legacy.
In memory of George Floyd, the Biden-Harris administration will continue to take action to ensure our nation delivers on its founding promise of fair and impartial justice for all. pic.twitter.com/Eue9wDKAId
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 25, 2023
Efforts to pass police reform at the federal level failed to become law
Biden’s statements come months after he urged Congress to take action on police reform in his State of the Union address in February.
Numerous attempts to pass policing reform at the federal level failed in the years following Floyd’s killing by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin.
Bodycam footage showed Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes as Floyd yelled, “I can’t breathe!” Chauvin’s actions ultimately caused him to suffocate. The 46-year-old former officer was sentenced to 252 months in prison in July.
Fellow officers Alexander Kueng, Thomas Kiernan Lane and Tou Thao have also been charged in connection with Floyd’s death. Thao was found guilty of second-degree accessory to manslaughter earlier this month. The Shadow Room reported.
A timeline of anniversaries and passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
In 2021, Biden met with Floyd’s family at the White House on the first anniversary of Floyd’s death. He had publicly urged Congress to reach agreement on police reform by that day.
Despite widespread Republican opposition, the Democrats in the House of Representatives were able to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
However, The talks broke down later that year. Ultimately, the bill failed to garner enough bipartisan support to pass the Senate, according to The Tribune.
To mark the second anniversary of his death, Biden signed an exclusive order along with members of Floyd’s family. The impact of this order is still quite limited, according to the outlet.
“Across our administration, we have made significant strides in meeting the requirements of my EO (Executive Order) and making policing safer, fairer and more effective,” Biden said in his statement.
The Star Tribune reports that several events in Floyd’s honor will be held in Minnesota over the next few years some days.
The Floyd family lost a brother, a son, a father – with the murder of George they lost a piece of their soul.
We will never forget what happened that day.
We will never forget the name of George Floyd.
We will never stop taking action in his honor.— President Biden (@POTUS) May 25, 2023
