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'We can't stop here,' President Biden says in first remarks since Chauvin conviction

'We can't stop here,' President Biden says in first remarks since Chauvin conviction
today we feel a side of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain. A measure of justice isn't the same as equal justice. This verdict brings us a step closer and the fact is we still have work to do. We still must reform the system. Last summer. Together with Senator Cory Booker and Representative Karen Bass, I introduced the George Floyd justice and policing act. This bill would hold law enforcement accountable and help build trust between law enforcement and our communities. This bill is part of George Floyd's legacy. The president and I will continue to urge the Senate to pass this legislation, not as a panacea for every problem, but as a start. This work is long overdue. America has a long history of systemic racism. Black americans and black men in particular have been treated throughout the course of our history as less than human. Black men are fathers and brothers and sons and uncles and grandfathers and friends and neighbors. Their lives must be valued in our education system, in our health care system, in our housing system, in our economic system, in our criminal justice system, in our nation. Full stop because of smartphones. So many americans have now seen the racial injustice that black americans have known for generations. The racial injustice that we have fought for generations. That my parents protested in the 1960s. That millions of us americans of every race protested last summer. Here's the truth about racial injustice. It is not just a black America problem or a people of color problem. It is a problem for every american. It is keeping us from fulfilling the promise of liberty and justice for all and it is holding our nation back from realizing our full potential. We are all a part of George Floyd's legacy and our job now is to honor it and to honor him. Thank you. And now it is my great honor to introduce the President of the United States joe biden. Yeah. Today, a jury in Minnesota found former Minneapolis police officer derek chauvin guilty on all counts in the murder, George Floyd last name. It was a murder in the full light of day and it ripped the blinders off the whole world to see the systemic racism. The vice president just referred to, there was systemic racism is a stain on our nation's soul, the knee on the neck of justice for black americans, profound fear and trauma, the pain, the exhaustion black and brown americans experience. Every single day the murder George Floyd launched the summer protest We hadn't seen since the civil rights here in the 60's protests that unified people of every race and generation in peace and with purpose to say enough enough enough of this senseless killing. Today, today's verdict is a step forward. I just spoke with the governor of Minnesota, Thank me for the close work with his team. I also spoke with George Floyd's family again, remarkable family of extraordinary courage. Nothing can ever bring their brother their father back. But this can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America. Let's also be clear such a verdict is also much too rare for so many people. Seems like it took a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors. A brave young woman with a smartphone camera crowd that was traumatized, traumatized witnesses, A murder that lasts almost 10 minutes in broad daylight. Problem in the whole world to see mhm officers standing up and testifying against a fellow officer instead of just closing ranks, which should be commended. A jury who heard the evidence carried out their civic duty in the midst of extraordinary moment under extraordinary pressure for so many. It feels like it took all of that for the judicial system to deliver a just, just basic accountability. We saw how traumatic and exhausting just watching the trial was for so many people. Think about those are your listening, think about how traumatic was for you. You weren't there, you didn't know any of the people. But it was difficult, especially for the witnesses. Why do relive that day? It's a trauma on top of the fear. So many people of color live with every day when they go to sleep at night and pray for the safety of themselves and their loved ones. Again, as we saw in this trial from the fellow police officers who testified, most men and women to wear the badge, serve their communities honorably. But those few who failed to meet that standard must be held accountable and they were today, one was No one should be above the law and today's verdict sends that message. But it's not enough. We can't stop here in order to deliver real change and reform. We can and we must do more to reduce the likelihood that tragedies like this will ever happen and occur again to ensure that black and brown people or anyone. So they don't fear the interactions of law enforcement that they don't have to wake up knowing that they can lose their very life in the course of just living their life, they don't have to worry about whether their sons or daughters will come home after a grocery store run. They're just walking down the street or driving the car, playing in the park or just sleeping at home. And this takes acknowledging and confronting head on systemic racism and the racial disparities that exist in policing and in our criminal justice system more broadly, you know, state and local government and law enforcement needs to step up. But so does the federal government. That's why I've appointed the leadership of the Justice Department that I have that is fully committed to restore trust between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to serve and protect. I have complete confidence in the attorney general general, garlands leadership and commitment. I've also nominated two Key Justice Department Nominees, Benita Gupta and Kristin Clark are eminently qualified, highly respected lawyers who have spent their entire careers fighting to advance racial equity and Justice. Benita and Kristen have the experience and the skill necessary to advance our administration's priorities to root out unconstitutional policing and reform our criminal justice system and they deserve to be confirmed. We also need Congress to act George Floyd was murdered almost a year ago. There's meaningful police reform legislation in his name. You just heard the vice president speak of it. She helped write it legislation to tackle systemic misconduct and police departments to resort trust between law enforcement and the people that are entrusted to serve and protect. But it shouldn't take a whole year to get this done. My conversations with the Floyd family. I spoke to them again today. I assure that we're going to continue to fight for the passage of Georgia florida justice and policing act so we can, I can sign into law as quickly as possible. There's more to do. Finally, it's the work we do every day to change hearts and minds as well as laws and policies. That's the work we have to only then well, full justice and full equality delivered to all americans. And that's what I just discussed with the Floyd family. A guilty verdict does not bring back George, but through the family's pain, they're finding purpose. So George Georgia's legacy will not be just about his death, but about what we must do in his memory. Also spoke to john and Jorge love George, his young daughter. When a matter last year, I've said this before George's funeral, I told her how brave I thought she was and I sort of melt down to hold her hand. He said, daddy's looking down on him. He's so proud. He said to me that I'll never forget it. Daddy changed the world my tour of this afternoon that it did change the world. Let that be his legacy, A legacy of peace, not violence of justice. Peaceful expression of that legacy are inevitable and appropriate. Violent protest is not And there are those who will seek to exploit the raw emotions of the moment, agitators and extremists who have no interest in social justice, who seek to carry out violence destroy property. Fan the flames of hate and division, don't do everything in their power to stop this country's march toward racial justice. We can't let them succeed. This is a time for this country to come together to unite as americans, but can never be any safe harbor for hate. In America said it many times, the battle for soul of this nation has been constant push and pull For more than 240 years. A tug of war between the american ideal that we're all created equal In the harsh reality, racism is long torn us apart at our best. The american ideal went out so we can't leave this moment or look away, thinking and our work is done. We have to look at it. We have to we look as we did For those nine minutes and 29 seconds we have to listen. I can't breathe, I can't breathe. Those are George Floyd's last words. We can't let those words die with him. Mhm. We have to keep hearing those words. We must not turn away. We can't turn away. We have a chance to begin to change the trajectory in this country. It's my hope and prayer. And we live up to the legacy. God bless you! May. God bless the George Floyd and his family. Thank you for taking the time to be here. This can be a moment of significant change. Thank you.
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'We can't stop here,' President Biden says in first remarks since Chauvin conviction
President Joe Biden said Tuesday the country could take a step toward racial justice after a jury found a former Minneapolis police officer guilty of murdering George Floyd in a case that was closely watched around the world.Biden called the verdict in the Derek Chauvin case "a giant step towards justice in America" but added that much more needs to be done in his first remarks since the verdict.Calling systemic racism "a stain on our nation's soul," Biden said he was heartened by the jury's verdict, the testimony of other police officers against Chauvin throughout the trial and the collective realization about the reality of systemic racism worldwide that has taken place since Floyd's death. But Biden recognized that none of that progress, or Chauvin being found guilty, would bring Floyd back."Nothing can ever bring their brother, their father back, but this can be a giant step forward in the march towards justice in America," Biden said.The president adding that the verdict in this case is "much too rare" and at the same time "not enough.""For so many people it seems like it took a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors. A brave young woman with a smartphone camera. A crowd that was traumatized," Biden said adding that the murder lasted "almost 10 minutes.""Black men, in particular, have been treated throughout the course of our history as less than human. Their lives must be valued in — our nation. Full stop," Biden added.Vice President Kamala Harris spoke before Biden's remarks and said lawmakers now need to take up legislation that will reform policing in America, calling it a part of Floyd's legacy."Today, we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain. A measure of justice is not the same as equal justice," Harris said.The White House said Biden, Harris and staff watched the verdict from the Private Dining Room in the White House. A senior administration official described the reaction inside the private dining room as "a collective exhale. From everyone. Then the collective recognition that so much more work needs to be done. But overall just a sweeping sense of relief."After the verdict was announced, Biden, Harris and first lady Jill Biden spoke with George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, from the Oval Office. Biden also spoke with Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.In his call to Floyd's family, Biden said, "Nothing is going to make it all better, but at least now there's some justice."He said he would bring the family to the White House and quoted Floyd's daughter Gianna, who told Biden at her father's memorial that he would change the world."He's going to start to change it now," Biden said on the call.The president said the verdict could "be our first shot at dealing with...systemic racism.""We were watching every second of this," he told the family of the trial. "We're all so relieved."Harris added, "History will look back at this moment and see it as an inflection moment."In light of an impending verdict in the trial, the president's previously planned remarks on the American Jobs Plan were rescheduled and the new speech was planned.There was different language prepared for various outcomes in the trial, though all versions included acknowledgment of the outpouring prompted by Floyd's death. Aides have been working on the language for a presidential statement over the course of the past week or so.Biden called on the country to continue to listen to the cries of activists who have sounded the alarm about police brutality in the months since Floyd's death."We have to listen. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. Those were George Floyd's last words. We can't let those words die with him. We have to keep hearing those words."Earlier Tuesday, Biden said he was "praying the verdict is the right verdict" and suggested there was ample evidence for the jury to consider as they determine whether Chauvin is guilty of murdering Floyd."It's overwhelming, in my view," Biden said in the Oval Office, where he was meeting with Hispanic lawmakers. "I wouldn't say that unless the jury was sequestered."

President Joe Biden said Tuesday the country could take a step toward racial justice after a jury found a former Minneapolis police officer guilty of murdering George Floyd in a case that was closely watched around the world.

Biden called the verdict in the Derek Chauvin case "a giant step towards justice in America" but added that much more needs to be done in his first remarks since the verdict.

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Calling systemic racism "a stain on our nation's soul," Biden said he was heartened by the jury's verdict, the testimony of other police officers against Chauvin throughout the trial and the collective realization about the reality of systemic racism worldwide that has taken place since Floyd's death. But Biden recognized that none of that progress, or Chauvin being found guilty, would bring Floyd back.

"Nothing can ever bring their brother, their father back, but this can be a giant step forward in the march towards justice in America," Biden said.

The president adding that the verdict in this case is "much too rare" and at the same time "not enough."

"For so many people it seems like it took a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors. A brave young woman with a smartphone camera. A crowd that was traumatized," Biden said adding that the murder lasted "almost 10 minutes."

"Black men, in particular, have been treated throughout the course of our history as less than human. Their lives must be valued in — our nation. Full stop," Biden added.

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke before Biden's remarks and said lawmakers now need to take up legislation that will reform policing in America, calling it a part of Floyd's legacy.

"Today, we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain. A measure of justice is not the same as equal justice," Harris said.

The White House said Biden, Harris and staff watched the verdict from the Private Dining Room in the White House. A senior administration official described the reaction inside the private dining room as "a collective exhale. From everyone. Then the collective recognition that so much more work needs to be done. But overall just a sweeping sense of relief."

After the verdict was announced, Biden, Harris and first lady Jill Biden spoke with George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, from the Oval Office. Biden also spoke with Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

In his call to Floyd's family, Biden said, "Nothing is going to make it all better, but at least now there's some justice."

He said he would bring the family to the White House and quoted Floyd's daughter Gianna, who told Biden at her father's memorial that he would change the world.

"He's going to start to change it now," Biden said on the call.

The president said the verdict could "be our first shot at dealing with...systemic racism."

"We were watching every second of this," he told the family of the trial. "We're all so relieved."

Harris added, "History will look back at this moment and see it as an inflection moment."

In light of an impending verdict in the trial, the president's previously planned remarks on the American Jobs Plan were rescheduled and the new speech was planned.

There was different language prepared for various outcomes in the trial, though all versions included acknowledgment of the outpouring prompted by Floyd's death. Aides have been working on the language for a presidential statement over the course of the past week or so.

Biden called on the country to continue to listen to the cries of activists who have sounded the alarm about police brutality in the months since Floyd's death.

"We have to listen. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. Those were George Floyd's last words. We can't let those words die with him. We have to keep hearing those words."

Earlier Tuesday, Biden said he was "praying the verdict is the right verdict" and suggested there was ample evidence for the jury to consider as they determine whether Chauvin is guilty of murdering Floyd.

"It's overwhelming, in my view," Biden said in the Oval Office, where he was meeting with Hispanic lawmakers. "I wouldn't say that unless the jury was sequestered."