White House: Biden says verdict in Chauvin trial could be a step towards racial justice in America and urges the country to come together

Biden called systemic racism a stain on our country’s soul and said he was delighted with the jury’s verdict, the testimony of other police officers against Chauvin during the trial and the collective realization of the reality of systemic racism worldwide that has plagued Floyd’s death. But Biden realized that none of this progress, or that Chauvin was convicted, would bring Floyd back.

“To so many people, it seems like it requires a unique and extraordinary confluence of factors. A brave young woman with a smartphone camera.” A crowd traumatized, “Biden said the killing lasted” almost ten minutes “.

“Black men in particular have been treated as less than human beings throughout our history. They should be valued in our country. Stop,” Biden added.

Speaking before Biden’s remarks, Vice President Kamala Harris said lawmakers should now enact legislation that would reform policing in America, calling it part of Floyd’s legacy.

“Today we feel a sigh of relief. It still 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 in the private dining room as a collective exhalation. From everyone. Then the collective recognition that so much more work needs to be done. But overall just a great feeling of relief. ‘

After the verdict was announced, Biden, Harris and first lady Jill Biden spoke to George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, of the Oval Office. Biden also spoke with Tim Walz, Minnesota’s Democratic government.

In his call to Floyd’s family, Biden said: “Nothing is going to improve it all, but at least there is some justice now.”

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

“He’s going to start changing that now,” Biden said.

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

“We watched this every second,” he told the family. “We are all so relieved.”

Harris added: “History will look back on this moment and see it as a moment of inflection.”

In light of an impending verdict at the trial, the president’s previously planned remarks on the U.S. Jobs Plan were rescheduled and the new speech planned.

There were different language preparations for the different outcomes in the trial, although all versions included acknowledging the outpouring due to Floyd’s death. Helpers have been working on the language for a presidential statement over the past week or so.

Biden called on the country to continue listening 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 not breathe. I can not breathe. These were George Floyd’s last words. We can not allow the words to die with him. We need to keep hearing these words. ‘

“I think it’s overwhelming,” Biden said in the Oval Office, where he met with Spanish lawmakers. “I would not say that unless the jury was sequestered.”

This is a striking story and will be updated.