Gianna Floyd, daughter of George Floyd, is seen at the White House after meeting President Biden and Vice President Harris on Tuesday. Evan Vucci / AP hide caption
Toggle labeling
Evan Vucci / AP
Gianna Floyd, daughter of George Floyd, is seen at the White House after meeting President Biden and Vice President Harris on Tuesday.
Evan Vucci / AP
On the first anniversary of his assassination by a Minneapolis police officer, a murder that sparked protests and encouraged police reforms, members of George Floyd’s family met with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and congressmen on Tuesday in Washington, DC.
The meeting with Biden and Harris lasted about an hour and was kept private. The White House said attendees included Floyd’s mother and daughter, three brothers and a nephew.
Biden then made a statement saying: “The Floyd family have shown extraordinary courage, especially their young daughter Gianna, whom I met again today. The day before her father’s funeral a year ago, Jill and I have the family met and she told me, “Dad changed the world.” He did. “
Rodney Floyd, one of George Floyd’s brothers, told reporters after their meeting that Biden and Harris showed “great concern” for the family and asked about their emotional state and self-care.
George Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams watches outside the White House as family members speak to reporters after meeting President Biden. Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images Hide caption
Toggle labeling
Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images
Biden had hoped Congress would pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act by the first anniversary of his death.
Brandon Williams, Floyd’s nephew, told reporters that Biden’s deadline was discussed at the White House meeting.
Speaking of the president, Williams said, “He’s not happy that it isn’t going to happen, but all in all he just wants the bill to be accurate, meaningful, and keep George’s legacy intact.”
“If you can make federal laws to protect the bird, the bald eagle, you can make federal laws to protect people of color,” said Philonise Floyd, another of George Floyd’s brothers.
The family visited House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Earlier Tuesday, who said she hoped Congress “can bring comfort to your family” by passing the Floyd Police Overhaul Act.
The Democrat-run House has already approved a move but remains bound by negotiations with Senate Republicans led by Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chamber’s only black Republican.
Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., Said getting “a substantive law” was “far more important than a specific date.” She vowed to work on a compromise measure “until we do the job” and vowed “it will be passed bipartisan”.
Differences in whether the measure should include provisions that make it easier to sue police officers on allegations of brutality appear to be the main obstacle to reaching an agreement.
In his statement, Biden said he appreciated “the good faith efforts of Democrats and Republicans to get a meaningful Senate bill through. I hope they get a bill to my desk quickly. We need to act.”
The White House announced Tuesday that Biden would travel to Tulsa, Okla., On June 1 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacrewhen an armed white mob killed up to 300 people in the affluent black community of Greenwood known as Black Wall Street.
