Blunt Rochester on Two-Year Anniversary of George Floyd’s Murder, “We can do more. We must do more.”

WILMINGTON, Del. — Today, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) issued the following statement, marking two years since the murder of George Floyd.

“As America grieves the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, today, we reflect on yet another moment of national mourning, as we mark two years since the murder of George Floyd.

“It was on that day, a family lost a brother, a son, and a father. George Floyd was murdered when an officer entrusted with protecting a community instead abused his power and privilege to take another man’s life. In the wake of that murder, we saw millions of Americans of good conscience stand up, assemble, march, and organize.

“Since that time, we have seen at least some measure of accountability in the conviction of his murderer — yet the same systems that failed George Floyd still persist today. This day of reflection should also serve as an audit of our progress — a measure of how far we’ve come in the time that has passed.

“The reality is that we’ve not come nearly far enough. While I commend President Biden for the Executive Order he’ll be issuing today on police reform, Congress has still shown a stunning inability to act. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act sits idly in the Senate — and while some members of that body have shown a willingness to engage in good-faith negotiations, far too many others have sat silently, content to watch our efforts fail.

“I said in the wake of George Floyd’s murder that it was time to have some uncomfortable conversations. The truth is we’ve not had nearly enough of them. I said that it was time to ask us what laws we were creating — what policies we were changing. The truth is we’ve not done enough.

“And as we reflect on this solemn anniversary, our hearts and spirits heavy with fresh grief — we must continue to stand up, assemble, march, and organize. We must continue to fight. We can do more. We must do more.”

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