This Thursday, President Joe Biden issued a statement as today marks the third anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. Biden called on Congress to enact police reforms while vowing to “do everything in my power to fight for police accountability.”
Biden wrote, “George Floyd’s murder exposed for many what Black and Brown communities have long known and experienced — that we must make a whole of society commitment to ensure that our Nation lives up to its founding promise of fair and impartial justice for all under the law. The injustice on display for the world to see sparked one of the largest civil rights movements in generations — with calls from all corners to acknowledge and address the challenges in our criminal justice system and in our institutions more broadly.”
As we previously reported, George Floyd was just 46-year-old when he died after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin drove his knee into his neck for more than nine minutes and was unable to breathe. Following the horrific killing that was captured on video, it sparked massive protests across the country and millions of people and U.S. companies pledged billions to combat racial justice and invest in Black-owned businesses. law enforcement departments also made commitments to reform.
Speaking more on his mission to call for police reform Biden said, “A year ago today, Kamala and I stood next to the family of George Floyd, civil rights leaders, and law enforcement officials to sign my executive order, which applies key elements of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to federal law enforcement: banning chokeholds, restricting no-knock warrants, establishing a database for police misconduct, and other measures to advance effective and accountable policing that builds public trust and increases public safety. Across our Administration, we have made significant progress in fulfilling the requirements of my EO, making policing safer, more equitable, and more effective.”
He continued, “I urge Congress to enact meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it. I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for police accountability in Congress, and I remain willing to work with Republicans and Democrats alike on genuine solutions.”
What Has Happened To The Officers Involved?
Derek Chauvin, 46, was convicted of murder by a northern Minnesota state court following a high-profile trial in 2021 and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. Chauvin has since asked Minnesota Supreme Court to review his murder conviction. This came weeks after appeals court denied his request for a new trial.
Meanwhile, three other police officers, who had remained passive during the agony of George Floyd, were also handed down sentences ranging from two and a half to three and a half years in prison.
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