President Biden calls for police reform on third anniversary of George Floyd’s murder

Democratic President Joe Biden has called on Congress to pass police reform while remembering George Floyd on the third anniversary of the Minnesota man’s death.

“As a nation, may we ensure that the legacy of George Floyd and the legacy of so many others we also honor every day is not just about their deaths, but about what we do to honor their memory. “, Biden said in a statement early Thursday morning.

In the years since Floyd’s death by Minneapolis police, attempts to pass police reform at the federal level have failed to become law. On the first anniversary of Floyd’s death in 2021, Biden met with Floyd’s family at the White House after publicly calling on Congress to reach an agreement that day.

House Democrats previously passed the sweeping George Floyd Police Justice Act amid GOP opposition, but bipartisan support was needed to secure major reform through the Senate. The talks collapsed later that year. On the second anniversary, members of Floyd’s family attended an event where Biden signed an executive order that had more limited impact.

“Across our administration, we have made significant progress in meeting my EO requirements, making policing safer, fairer and more effective,” Biden said in his statement.

Biden’s words on Thursday came after he called on Congress during his February State of the Union address to take action on police reform.

“But we know that implementing real and lasting change at the state and local levels requires Congress to act. I urge Congress to pass meaningful police reform and send it to my office. I will sign it “, Biden said Thursday. “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 on real solutions.”

Floyd memorial events will be held in Minnesota over the next few days.