Biden addresses police reform in BET interview

In an interview with BET on Wednesday evening, President Biden admitted that he wasn’t able to take as much action as he wished following the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers.

Speaking with Ed Gordon, Biden said, “I had to take independent action that wasn’t as strong as what I wanted the George Floyd legislation to be, otherwise I couldn’t get Republican votes.”

Following Floyd’s murder, Democrats introduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. The legislation would have enacted sweeping police reform including banning no knock warrants and carotid chokeholds. The bill passed in the Democratic-controlled House but stalled in the Senate. 

Gordon pointed out that in the wake of Black Americans had hoped for change — change that Biden had promised. 

Biden pushed back slightly, pointing out the reform his administration did pass, such as ensuring federal officers wear body cameras. 

But, he admitted, there is still more to be done. 

“We don’t need more cops,” said Biden. “We need more social workers. We need more people who are in communities building coalitions that’s growing across the country.” 

Biden’s interview with Gordon touched on a multitude of issues most pressing to Black voters, including inflation and abortion.