WASHINGTON – The family of George Floyd met privately with President Joe Biden on Tuesday and pressed congressional leaders to strike a deal on a massive policing package one year after police killed Floyd on a south Minneapolis street.
Floyd family: 'An honor' to meet with President Biden on anniversary
Philonise Floyd, George's brother, also made clear they want to see the police reform bill named after George Floyd signed into law.
May 25, 2021 at 9:38PM
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris gathered with the Floyd family for about an hour Tuesday afternoon. Looming over the emotional day, however, was the inability of Congress to meet the president's deadline to advance police reform legislation by the anniversary of Floyd's death.
"If you can make federal laws to protect the bird which is the bald eagle, you can make federal laws to protect people of color," Philonise Floyd, George's brother, told reporters after the meeting.
He described Biden as a "genuine guy" and said the family was thankful. But he also made clear they want to see the police reform legislation named after George Floyd signed into law.
In March, House Democrats passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The legislation was strongly opposed by Republicans, who favored a less sweeping series of changes.
After the family met with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Rep. Karen Bass in the morning, Pelosi told reporters, "They were lovely, they're optimistic, they're positive, but they're determined that we will get something done."
Outside the White House, Brandon Williams, George Floyd's nephew, said the president showed concern, and wanted to know how the family was doing and how he could support them.
"He did let us know that he supports passing the bill, but he wants to make sure that it's the right bill and not a rushed bill," Williams said. And on the deadline, Williams said Biden is "not happy about it not being met, but all in all, he just wants the bill to be right and meaningful and that it holds George's legacy intact."
One family member stayed home. George's sister Bridgett Floyd said in Minnesota that she will only travel to Washington when a bill is ready to be signed into law.
The reckoning on racial justice and policing stemming from Floyd's death last May hasn't been lost on Biden. The Democrat has put the Floyd family's experience front and center during major moments this year.
On the day former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of Floyd's murder, Biden and Harris called the family. The president could be heard telling the family they were "incredible" and "we're all so relieved," shortly after the verdict was announced. He later addressed the nation in a televised speech and called for further action and change in Floyd's memory by May 25.
An effort to find a bipartisan compromise in the Senate remains underway. Biden nodded to those talks in a statement after the Oval Office visit with the Floyd family. "It's my hope they will get a bill to my desk quickly," he said.
Yet Republicans and Democrats are deeply divided on police reform, even within Minnesota's congressional delegation.
"While it is disappointing that we have been unable to come up with an agreement on police reform, we will take as long as need be to get this legislation right," Republican Rep. Pete Stauber, a former police officer, said in a statement. "I will never support bad legislation just for the chance to say that we got something done in this space."
The meeting between Biden and the Floyd family is "deeply symbolic," Sen. Tina Smith said in an interview beforehand, and shows "the commitment that the president has to moving our country forward on racial justice."
"Missing this deadline, at the end of the day, will be less important than the strong bill that we have to pass," said Smith, a Democrat, of the legislation named after George Floyd.
Despite the family's grief, their trip to D.C. included some warm moments. Chris Stewart, a member of the family's legal team, said Biden played with George Floyd's young daughter Gianna who "had an absolute ball." The president said in his own statement that "the Floyd family has shown extraordinary courage" and singled out Gianna in particular.
"Being here today is an honor, to meet with the president and the vice president and for them to show their concern to our family and for them to actually give an ear to our concerns and how we feel on the situation," said Terrence Floyd, George's brother. "I feel it was a very productive conversation, and I'm grateful for it.'
Staff writer Jim Spencer contributed to this report.
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