Following that landmark verdict that convicted Derek Chauvin on all three charges in the George Floyd murder, US President Joe Biden asked people not to let the words “I can’t breathe” from Floyd just before his death ‘die with him”.

In nationally televised remarks following the verdict on Tuesday, Biden urged people to not turn away from these words and let them fuel the fight against systemic racism. “We cannot turn away.”

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He went on to tag “systemic racism” as a “stain on our nation’s soul” and called for people to confront the racial discrimination that “exist in policing and our criminal justice system.”

Biden stressed that the delivery of such a landmark verdict “can be a moment of significant change” and it is “a giant step forward on the march towards justice in America,” however, he reiterated that it is not enough and the struggle cannot stop here. 

“In order to deliver real change and reform, we can and we must do more to reduce the likelihood that tragedies like this ever occur,” the President opined.

He also called on Americans to unite and pleaded for protesters to stay clear of violence.

“This is the time for this country to come together, to unite as Americans,” he said in his remarks.

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“There are those who will seek to exploit the raw emotions in the moment — agitators and extremists who have no interest in social justice,” he warned. “We can’t let them succeed.”

In his statement, he also talked about the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and urged the US Congress to pass the bill.

“There’s meaningful police reform legislation in George Floyd’s name, but it shouldn’t take a year to get it done.”  

“I assured the Floyd family that we’re going to continue to fight for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act so I can sign it into law right away,” Biden added.