‘I can not breathe. Those were George Floyd’s last words, ”said Biden, recalling the final statement of the man who convicted Derek Chauvin of murder. “We can’t let those words die with him. We must keep hearing those words. We must not turn away. We can’t run away. ‘
“This could be a moment of profound change,” he concluded.
It was a stark reflection on the race and policing state of a president who, following Floyd’s death last spring, centered his presidential campaign on a vow to address issues of inequality and systemic bias.
Tuesday’s verdict raised these issues in the biggest way since Biden took office. The president had been closely monitoring the process from within the White House, carefully calibrating his planned response to address the outcome, while acknowledging the ongoing trauma in black communities.
He was concerned about the potential for unrest in the event of a not guilty verdict, which led to relief when the conviction was overturned.
“We watched this every second,” he told Floyd’s family in a phone call shortly after the verdict was read in court. “We are all so relieved.”
In his comments a few hours later from the White House foyer, Biden called systemic racism “ a stain on the soul of our nation ” and said he was encouraged by the jury’s verdict, other police officers’ testimony against Chauvin during the process and collective realization of the reality of systemic racism worldwide that has taken place since Floyd’s death.
“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 declared a guilty verdict such as the one made Tuesday “far too rare” and said it was “not enough” to solve all of society’s problems.
“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,” said Biden, noting that the murder lasted “nearly 10 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.
Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking for the president, said lawmakers must now pass legislation that will reform the police force in America, calling it part of Floyd’s legacy.
“Today we feel a sigh of relief. Still, it can’t take away the pain. A measure of justice is not equal to equal justice,” Harris said, calling for the passing of a police law called Floyd that she had helped sponsor. . as a senator.
The White House said Biden, Harris and staff viewed the verdict from the Private Dining Room next to the Oval Office in the West Wing. A senior official of the administration later described the reaction in the 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 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.
Harris added, “History will look back at this point and see it as a turning point.”
The White House had been monitoring the trial for the past few days and had no plans to travel outside of Washington for Biden this week as the closing arguments got underway. Officials had indicated that Biden would likely discuss the outcome if a verdict had come.
On Tuesday, planned comments on his infrastructure proposal were dropped to make way for his statement on the process.
Speech writers had prepared different versions for different outcomes in the process, though all included acknowledgment of the outpouring caused by Floyd’s death, officials said. Aides had been working on the presidential statement for the past week.
“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 story was updated on Tuesday with additional developments.
CNN’s Phil Mattingly, Jeff Zeleny, Kevin Liptak, Allison Malloy, Jason Hoffman contributed to this report.