The family of George Floyd met with President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris today, as people in the United States and globally marked the one-year anniversary of his death.
At the White House, Floyd’s siblings and daughter talked with the President and the VP for more than an hour. According to Floyd family attorney Ben Crump, Biden told them he wants to sign a bill that has substance and isn’t rushed. The President also used the time to see how the family was doing.
In Minneapolis, portraits of civil rights leaders were set up at George Floyd Square, the intersection where he was killed last year. But the gathering was interrupted by the sound of gunfire that sent people scrambling for cover.
In Dallas, organizers set up a solidarity march and rally. It comes as the city’s police force grapples with changes to the way they do their jobs.
In California, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra is streaming a free concert in Floyd’s memory.
BET observed the somber anniversary by scheduling a day of special programming that starts with “Bars and Ballads for George Floyd,” featuring Jon Batiste, Nas and former UN Ambassador Andrew Young.
The George Floyd Memorial Foundation is using the anniversary to urge supporters to call their elected officials and demand that they pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill remains stalled in the Senate. Biden had set an initial goal of having the legislation passed by the one-year anniversary of Floyd’s death.
Press secretary Jen Psaki said today there would be no new deadline set to get the Policing Act passed.
Meanwhile, the president sent out a message via his twitter account saying that more must be done to achieve the proper justice in the wake of Floyd’s death.
