Tuesday afternoon in the White House, President Joe Biden met with George Floyd’s family on the one-year anniversary of his untimely death in Minneapolis. Press was not allowed in the meeting. However, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to reporters after the meeting concluded.
“Yeah, so it was good to see the family again,” Harris said. “Today, of course, the anniversary of his [George Floyd] murder. And, you know I have to tell you, it has been the case since I first met the family today, that they have shown such dignity in the face of such an atrocious tragedy. They have been consistent in using their voice in a way that has been about lifting up Other families and other injustices, but doing it with the purpose of compelling actions to fix what we know are the problems in the system. They in their grief, are so generous in the way that they have been supporting other families and supporting a system that that, that should rightfully yield in the face of injustice to what we know needs to be reformed. And so I commend them, I am in awe of their courage, their continuing courage, the selflessness. I mean truly, selfless, in the way that they have approached this and George Floyd should be alive today.”
Biden took time during the meeting to play with George Floyd’s young daughter Gianna, who enjoyed some ice cream and Cheetos, the president said, after she told him she was hungry.
Later, she stood before the cameras outside the White House and softly called out, “say his name.” Family members chanted in return, “George Floyd.”
Biden told them “he just wants the bill to be meaningful and that it holds George’s legacy intact,” said George Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams. Williams said Biden showed “genuine concern” for how the family is doing.
Originally, President Biden wanted the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act passed by today. With progress slowly moving along, it signifies a deep philosophical chasm as the Democrats seek to codify changes voiced by the concerned public regarding police brutality. Conversely, the Republicans believe there is nothing wrong with the status quo. It is telling that Biden has always wanted a bipartisan agreement, even though, Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump said Biden told them “he doesn’t want to sign a bill that doesn’t have substance and meaning.
“So he is going to be patient, to make sure it’s the right bill, not a rushed bill,” Crump said.
“You know we are waiting, we’re listening, we’re hearing,” said Vice President Harris. “The work is happening, you know Senator Cory Booker, he and I together wrote the Justice and Policing Act when I was in the Senate, together with Karen Bass and Jerry Nadler on the House side, and, and the work that they have been doing has it been I think intensive work through the weekends. Some House members including Karen Bass not going back to the district, continuing to work on it so they’re working around the clock from everything I can see. And we’re waiting to hear that there seems to be a bit of optimism, coming from the Hill, and that gives me a sense of optimism and we’ll wait and see.”
