Floyd murder trial verdict ‘a step forward’, says Joe Biden

Washington: President Joe Biden says George Floyd’s death was “a murder in the full light of day and it ripped the blinders off” for all the world to see the problems with race and policing in the US.

Biden, speaking after former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder in Floyd’s death last May, said the verdict can be a giant step forward for the country against systemic racism.

“The systemic racism is a stain on our nation’s soul,” he said. “Today’s verdict is a step forward.”

President Joe Biden, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks at the White House in Washington, after former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.Credit: AP

“Nothing can ever bring their brother, their father back, but this can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America,” he said.

“Let’s also be clear, such a verdict is also much too rare.”

Biden lauded the officers who testified in the trial instead of closing ranks and keeping quiet and said it is so important to ensure black and brown people don’t fear interaction with law enforcement.

Vice-President Kamala Harris, America’s first black vice-president, said the nation still must work to reform the criminal justice system.

Vice-President Kamala Harris, accompanied by President Joe Biden, speaking on the verdict. Credit: AP

“A measure of justice isn’t the same as equal justice,” Harris says.

Before addressing the nation, Biden and Harris spoke by phone with members of the Floyd family.

The president told the family that he and Harris were “so relieved” by the verdict, according to a video of the call posted on Twitter by Floyd family attorney Ben Crump

In a video posted by family attorney Ben Crump, Biden told the family, “Nothing is going to make it all better, but at least now there is some justice.”

He added, “We’re all so relieved.”

Biden said he hoped the verdict would give momentum to congressional police reform efforts.

According to the White House, Biden and Harris watched the verdict live from the private dining room just off the Oval Office.

George Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd later said: “Today, we are able to breathe again.”

Chauvin, the former police officer who was filmed kneeling on the neck of black Minneapolis resident George Floyd on May 25 last year, was found guilty of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter.

George Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd speaking after the verdict.Credit: AP

The jury verdict was one of the most closely watched in recent American history given the high-profile, emotionally-charged nature of the trial.

Former US president Barack Obama has tweeted out his statement on the guilty verdict handed down to former police officer Derek Chauvin in relation to the death of George Floyd.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus Representative Joyce Beatty.Credit: AP

He wrote that the jury in the case did the right thing, but stated that true justice was about much more than a single verdict in a single trial.

“True justice requires that we come to terms with the fact that black Americans are treated differently, every day,” he wrote.

He wrote that he and wife Michelle sent their prayers to George Floyd’s family.

Lawmakers from both parties expressed satisfaction with Tuesday’s guilty verdict.

California Democratic Representative Maxine Waters says: “I’m not celebrating, I’m relieved.”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters.Credit: AP

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the chamber’s only black Republican, says he is thankful for a verdict that shows “our justice system continues to become more just.” But GOP Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says, “I guess I’m in agreement” with the jury’s decision.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California is expressing thanks to Floyd “for sacrificing your life for justice.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York says Congress must keep working on legislation “to bring meaningful change” to police departments.

Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock says he hopes the verdict will let “people who have seen this trauma over and over again” know the nation’s laws can give them equal protection. Warnock is pastor of the Atlanta church once led by the Reverend Martin Luther King.

The verdict was hailed around the country as justice by other political and civic leaders and celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and California Governor Gavin Newsom, a white man, who said on Twitter that Floyd “would still be alive if he looked like me. That must change.”

Winfrey wrote on Twitter: “Relieved- and emotional in ways I didn’t expert. I cried tears of joy as each verdict was read. I’m grateful to the witnesses and their testimonies.”

“Grateful to Darnella Frazier.”

Frazier is the teen who filmed Floyd’s murder.

“Grateful to every Juror for seeing and acknowledging what the world saw on that tape,” Winfrey tweeted. “Thank you God for real!”

AP