President Joe Biden issued an extensive statement in honor of George Floyd, whose death while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, triggered a summer of unrest and violence. These riots were so out of control that they resulted in over $2 billion in damages nationwide.
To add a little more controversy, some concerns have been circulating about the alignment of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement with pro-Hamas and anti-Israel stances that typically reflect antisemitism. The founder of BLM advocated for the eradication of Israel.
George Floyd had a history of drug abuse and was detained by law enforcement for attempting to purchase something with counterfeit money. Post-mortem examinations revealed the presence of both fentanyl and methamphetamine in his system. The officer charged in Floyd’s death was convicted and incarcerated.
BREAKING: Joe Biden pays tribute to BLM hero George Floyd on his 50th birthdayhttps://t.co/tUIRIrmCqW
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 14, 2023
In Biden’s statement, he asserted that the extensive riots during the summer of 2020 constituted “one of the largest civil rights movements in our nation’s history and inspired the world.” These events prompted many municipalities to advocate for defunding their police departments, contributing to a surge in crime in various regions and a prevalence of mass looting, which still plagues cities such as San Francisco.
The decrease in law enforcement presence in major urban areas resulted in business closures due to increased violence and crime. These cities were also forced to pay approximately $68 million to individuals who claimed mistreatment by the police while participating in the riots.
Biden lauded his involvement in the defund the police movement, highlighting the executive order he signed to restrict police practices concerning the pursuit and restraint of suspects engaged in violent activities. He urged Congress to pass “meaningful police reform.”
However, the consequences and details of such reform and its potential impact on a country grappling with approximately 5 million undocumented immigrants and escalating crime rates remain unclear.
Here’s Biden’s statement:
“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.
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.
George Floyd’s murder exposed for many what Black and Brown communities have long known and experienced — that our nation has never fully lived up to its highest ideal of fair and impartial justice for all under the law.
The day before her father’s funeral, Gianna told me, “Daddy changed the world.” Three years after her father’s murder, my answer to Gianna remains the same: he has.
A year and a half ago, Kamala and I stood with the family of George Floyd, civil rights leaders and law enforcement officials. I signed an executive order which applies key elements of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to federal law enforcement.
This order bans chokeholds, restricts no-knock warrants, establishes a database for police misconduct and directs other measures to advance effective and accountable policing that increases public safety. It is putting federal law enforcement on the path to becoming the gold standard of effectiveness and accountability.
My order also directs the use of federal tools to support similar reforms in state and local agencies. Across our Administration, we have made significant progress in fulfilling the requirements of my executive order, making policing safer and rebuilding trust in American communities.
But we know that implementing real and lasting change at the state and local levels requires Congress to act. I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for police accountability and urge Congress to pass meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign it.
George Floyd’s memory reminds us that there is more work to do to redeem the soul of America. 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, along with many other woke liberals, overlooked that George Floyd had a history of drug abuse and that he was arrested for using counterfeit money. Autopsy reports also showed he had used illicit substances, while the 911 report indicated that Floyd was obviously intoxicated while attempting to use the fake money to buy something.
Reports also revealed that Floyd had landed five years behind bars in 2009 for assault and robbery. Before that, he had been convicted of charges ranging from theft with a firearm to drug charges.
Slapping the title ‘hero’ Floyd oversimplifies a complex story. It glosses over the reality to keep Americans divided and to keep the fire raging. Instead, we should have a deeper conversation about the changes our society truly needs. We need to acknowledge the issues he represents and also recognize the poor decisions he chose to make over and over again.
The approach of being lenient on crime has a history of proven failure. Releasing violent or dangerous offenders back into our communities with minimal consequences often results in a cycle of recidivism. Individuals not only re-offend but sometimes escalate their criminal activities.
This approach doesn’t yield the intended outcomes. In many cases, it endangers the safety and security of our neighborhoods. A more effective strategy must prioritize rehabilitation and accountability, ensuring that those who pose a risk to society are not merely released or given a light sentence. They should not be given the freedom to repeat their actions or do something worse.
