One year after police killed George Floyd on a south Minneapolis street, Floyd's family met privately with President Joe Biden and urged congressional leaders to reach an agreement on a massive policing package.
On Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) afternoon, Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Kamala Harris met with the Floyd family for around an hour. The failure of Congress to reach the president's deadline of passing police reform legislation by the anniversary of Floyd's death, however, was at the heart of the emotional day.
After the meeting, George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, told reporters, "If you can make federal laws to protect the bald eagle, you can make federal laws to protect people of color."
He called Biden a "genuine man" and expressed gratitude on behalf of the Biden family. He did, however, make it clear that they want police reform legislation named after George Floyd to be signed into law.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act was passed by House Democrats in March. Republicans were outspoken in their opposition to the bill, preferring a more limited set of amendments.
“They were lovely, they're hopeful, they're ambitious, but they're determined that we can get something done,” Pelosi told reporters after the family met with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Representative Karen Bass in the morning.
Following a number of meetings with members of Congress from both sides, Ben Crump spoke to reporters.
Outside the White House, George Floyd's nephew, Brandon Williams, said the president expressed concern and wanted to know how the family was doing and how he could help.
“He did say he supports passing the bill, but he needs to make sure it's the right bill and not a hurried bill,” Williams said. In regards to the deadline, Williams said that Biden is "not pleased" that it was not met, but that "overall, he just wants the bill to be right and substantive, and that it preserves George's legacy."
One member of the family was absent. Bridgett Floyd, his niece, said in Minnesota that she will only fly to Washington once a bill is ready for signing.
The ethnic and policing repercussions of Floyd's death last May haven't gone unnoticed by Biden. During key moments this year, the Democrat has brought the Floyd family's story to the forefront.
Biden and Harris contacted Floyd's family the day after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was accused of his murder. Shortly after the verdict was released, the president could be heard telling the family that they were "incredible" and that "we're all so happy." In a televised speech, he later addressed the country, calling for more action and reform in Floyd's honor by May 25.
In the Senate, efforts to reach a bipartisan agreement are still ongoing. In a statement released after his meeting with the Floyd family in the Oval Office, Biden alluded to those discussions. “It is my hope that they can get a bill to my desk as soon as possible,” Biden said.
And within Minnesota's congressional delegation, Republicans and Democrats are strongly split on police reform.
“While it is unfortunate that we were unable to reach an agreement on police reform, we will take as much time as is necessary to get this legislation right,” Minnesota Republican Representative Pete Stauber, a former cop, said in a statement. “I will never endorse bad legislation simply to be able to claim that we accomplished something in this area.”
According to Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, the meeting between Biden and the Floyd family is "deeply symbolic" and demonstrates "the president's dedication to moving our nation forward on racial justice."
“At the end of the day, missing this deadline would be less critical than the powerful bill that we have to pass,” Smith, a Democrat, said of the Floyd-themed legislation.
Despite their sadness, the family's trip to DC had some happy moments. Biden played with George Floyd's young daughter Gianna, according to Chris Stewart, a member of the family's legal team.
In his own speech, the President praised “the Floyd family's exceptional courage,” praising Gianna in particular.
“To meet with the President and Vice-President and for them to display their concern for our family and for them to genuinely offer an ear to our thoughts and how we feel about the situation is an honor,” George Floyd's brother, Terrence Floyd, said. “I think we had a very fruitful discussion, and I appreciate it.”
An outdoor celebration was also held in Minneapolis to commemorate the occasion.
A few hundred people gathered at The Commons park for an event organized by the George Floyd Memorial Foundation, where musicians played. It had the feel of a block party, with food trucks and a bouncy house thrown in for good measure, all punctuated by demands for change.
However, crime in the city was once again on show at George Floyd Square, only a few feet from where he was killed a year ago: Shots rang out, sending hundreds of people fleeing for cover.
As parents sprinted to find children who had been playing nearby moments before, stray bullets smashed a window and tore into a tour bus.
Authorities said that after the shooting, a person sought care at a local hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
