October 15th 2023.
On October 14th, the world celebrated what would have been the 50th birthday of George Floyd. President Joe Biden used this special day to call on members of Congress to “recommit” to police reform legislation in his honor. This call to action follows the executive order signed by Biden shortly after Floyd’s death at the hands of Derek Chauvin last May.
“George Floyd should be alive. He should be celebrating his 50th birthday with his young daughter Gianna, family, and friends. He deserved so much more,” shared Biden in a press statement. Floyd’s death in Minneapolis sparked Black Lives Matter protests worldwide, and in 2021, the family received a $27 million settlement after filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Chauvin and three other officers involved in the matter were also charged and sentenced for their misdeeds. Chauvin was found guilty of second and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter, and was sentenced to 252 months in prison.
However, Biden also spoke of Floyd’s legacy for bringing the systemic issue of police brutality to the forefront of America’s conscience. “Today, we join his family to honor his life and legacy. And we remember the tragedy and injustice of his death that sparked one of the largest civil rights movements in our nation’s history and inspired the world,” he expressed.
Biden continued to call on Congress to pass meaningful legislation that will support agencies at the state and local levels to “make policing safer”. He emphasized that he will sign any “meaningful” police reform that will seek to earn the trust of communities across the nation.
“Let us recommit to changing hearts and minds while enacting policies and laws that ensure our nation lives up to its founding idea: that we’re all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives,” Biden said.
As the fight against police brutality remains prevalent, the remembrance of George Floyd brings the advocacy for justice reform to the forefront. His life and death will never be forgotten, and his legacy will continue to inspire the world.
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