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Joe Biden said he hoped Derek Chauvin’s murder conviction would serve as a “giant step” toward racial justice in the United States as he used a first-rate national speech to express relief from the guilty verdict.
In a speech at the White House Tuesday evening, the U.S. president said the outcome of the trial could be a “moment of significant change” and called on Congress to approve federal police reform in George’s memory. Floyd.
Biden spoke after a Minneapolis jury ruled that Chauvin, a former police officer, was guilty under the three charges: second- and third-degree murder, and second-degree homicide.
“It’s time for this country to unite, to unite as Americans. There can never be any safe harbor for hatred in America, “Biden said, speaking alongside Vice President Kamala Harris.” We have a chance to start changing trajectory in this country. “
Before the speech, Biden spoke on the phone Floyd’s family, who were in Minneapolis court. Benjamin Crump, the family’s lawyer, posted a video of the call on social media, in which the president said, “We’re all so relieved.”
“At least, God, there’s some justice now,” Biden told the family. “It simply came to our notice then. You are an amazing family. I wish I was there just to put my arms around you.
“We will do many more things,” the president added. “We’ll stay there until we do.”
The verdict was also welcomed by former President Barack Obama, who issued a statement to his wife, Michelle, saying the jury “did the right thing.”
“Although today’s verdict may have been a necessary step on the road to progress, it was far from sufficient. We can’t rest, “the Obamas said.” We will have to continue with concrete reforms that will reduce and ultimately eliminate racial bias from our criminal justice system. “
Democratic Capitol Hill lawmakers, who have been pushing for federal police reform, also welcomed the verdict.
Joyce Beatty, the Ohio Democratic representative who chairs the black group in Congress, said: “This verdict we certainly agree on, guilty of all charges. But we want our message to be very clear that this is only the first. We know clearly that justice has been delayed. “
“We hope that today will be the catalyst to turn pain, agony and backward justice into actions that go far beyond today,” he added.
Maxine Waters, the California Democratic congresswoman she attracted critic earlier in the week, for his suggestion that protesters should be “more confrontational” if Chauvin were acquitted, he said, “You know, someone said it better than I did, ‘I’m not celebrating, I’m relieved.’
Many lawmakers said they were optimistic that the verdict would provide impetus to pass George Floyd’s Police Justice Act, legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled House but stopped in the Senate, which until January was controlled by Republicans. .
Democrats now control the Senate by the narrowest margin, so they will have to work with Republicans to pass federal legislation and send it to the Biden counter for it to sign.
“We need Congress to act,” Biden said in his White House speech. “It shouldn’t take a whole year to do that.”
Tim Scott, the Republican senator from South Carolina, who has been instrumental in drafting the GOP’s proposals for police reform, told reporters on Capitol Hill that the jury’s verdict was “absolutely” relieved and that Democrats and Republicans would likely reach a bipartisan agreement on federal legislation.
“This is a monumental day, in many ways, in my opinion,” Scott said. “The verdict only reinforces that our judicial system remains fairer. . . we have been working on police reform legislation. I am cautiously optimistic that we will find a way forward. “
Rob Portman, the Republican senator from Ohio, said: “George Floyd’s death was tragic and should never happen to anyone in the United States. Today I am grateful that justice seems to be done while we await sentencing. “
Tuesday’s verdict was also well received by many business leaders. Executives had watched the trial closely, aware of the impact Floyd’s assassination had on many of his employees and the pressure he exerted on the corporate United States to do more to combat it. racial inequalities.
Several business leaders turned to social media to express their satisfaction with the guilty verdict, mixed with the recognition that injustices persist and the commitment to use their platforms to support reform.
The Business Roundtable, a pressure group representing America’s largest corporation, said the verdict “confirms that George Floyd was the victim of a senseless crime” and that he would “continue to work” with members of Congress and the White House in “bipartisan police reforms.” ”.
Mary Barra, chief executive of GM, described the guilty verdicts in a tweet as “a step in the fight against bias and injustice,” but added: “We must remain determined to push for meaningful and deliberate change at large. scale “.
“The American justice system has served us all today with verdicts of guilt over the murder of George Floyd,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, the city’s leading business group. .
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