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Across the nation on Tuesday, people used the anniversary of the killing as an opportunity to celebrate Mr. Floyd’s life and to renew calls for change.
“If you can make federal laws to protect the bird which is the bald eagle, then you can make federal laws to protect people of color,” said Philonise Floyd, one of Mr. Floyd’s brothers.
A small group of demonstrators marched through downtown New York City, denouncing police misconduct and brutality and calling for further investment in Black communities. In Minneapolis, people gathered in George Floyd Square, where he was killed, and others met in a downtown park for an event honoring Mr. Floyd “through Black culture, art, history and support of local businesses.”
Marches and vigils took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and several other cities. Before arriving at the White House, Mr. Floyd’s family made stops with key lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who renewed her party’s commitment to getting a bill signed into law.
Mr. Biden met with the family in the Oval Office for over an hour for a private discussion, closed to the press. Among those who attended were Gianna Floyd, Mr. Floyd’s young daughter; Roxie Washington, Gianna’s mother; Philonise, Rodney and Terrence Floyd, his brothers; and Mr. Williams.
They characterized the meeting with Mr. Biden as a personal check-in with a family he has gotten to know over the past year.
“He genuinely wanted to know exactly how we were doing,” Mr. Williams said.
After the meeting, Mr. Biden said Mr. Floyd’s relatives had shown “extraordinary courage” and called the conviction of Mr. Chauvin a “step forward toward justice” for Mr. Floyd.
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