Biden called the Derek Chauvin verdict “a giant step towards justice in America,” but added that in his initial comments since the verdict, much more needs to be done.
“Nothing can ever bring their brother, their father back, but this could be a giant step forward in the march towards justice in America,” said Biden.
The president adds that the verdict in this case is “far too rare” and at the same time “not enough”.
“To so many people, it seems like a unique and extraordinary convergence of factors was needed. A brave young woman with a smartphone camera. A crowd traumatized,” Biden said, adding that the murder lasted “almost ten minutes.”
“Black men, in particular, have been treated as less than human throughout our history. Their lives must be appreciated in – our nation. Period,” added Biden.
Speaking ahead of Biden’s comments, Vice President Kamala Harris said lawmakers must now pass legislation that will reform the police force in America and call it part of Floyd’s legacy.
Today we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it cannot take away the pain. A measure of justice is not equal to equal justice, ”Harris said.
The White House said Biden, Harris and staff viewed the verdict from the Private Dining Room in the White House. A senior government official described the response in the private dining room as “a collective exhalation. From everyone. Then the collective recognition that there is still so much work to be done. But overall just a great sense of relief.”
After the verdict was announced, Biden, Harris and First Lady Jill Biden spoke with George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, of the Oval Office. Biden also spoke with Minnesota Democratic government Tim Walz.
In his appeal to Floyd’s family, Biden said, “Nothing will make it all better, but at least now there is some justice.”
He said he would take the family to the White House and quoted Floyd’s daughter Gianna, who told Biden at her father’s memorial that he would change the world.
“He’s going to change it now,” Biden said over the phone call.
The president said the verdict could be “our first chance to deal with … systemic racism.”
“We watched this every second,” he told the family of the trial. “We are all so relieved.”
Harris added, “History will look back at this point and see it as a turning point.”
In light of an impending verdict in the trial, the president’s previously planned comments on the US job plan were moved and the new speech was scheduled.
Different language was prepared for different outcomes in the process, although all versions include acknowledgment of the outpouring caused by Floyd’s death. For the past week, aides have been working on the language for a presidential statement.
Biden called on the country to continue to listen to the screams of activists who have raised the alarm about police brutality in the months following Floyd’s death.
‘We have to listen. I can not breathe. I can not breathe. Those were George Floyd’s last words. We can’t let those words die with him. We have to keep hearing those words. ‘
“It’s overwhelming in my opinion,” Biden said in the Oval Office, where he met with Spanish lawmakers. “I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was separated.”
This is a groundbreaking story and will be updated.
CNN’s Phil Mattingly, Jeff Zeleny, Kevin Liptak, Allison Malloy, Jason Hoffman contributed to this report.