Biden called George Floyd’s brother and is ‘praying for RIGHT verdict’ as nation braces for violence
JOE Biden called George Floyd’s brother on Monday and said he’s “praying for the right verdict” in the Derek Chauvin trial as the nation braces for violence.
Biden called Philonise Floyd yesterday evening, shortly after jurors in Chauvin’s trial were sequestered by the judge to begin their deliberations after three weeks of testimony.
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Speaking ahead of a meeting with lawmakers in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Biden confirmed he’d spoken with Floyd’s family and called the evidence against Chauvin “overwhelming”.
The president said he “can only imagine the pressure and anxiety” the family is feeling while they await a verdict.
“They’re a good family and they’re calling for peace and tranquillity no matter what that verdict is,” Biden said.
“I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict. It’s overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered now.”
Biden has repeatedly denounced Floyd’s death but had previously stopped short of weighing in on the trial itself.
News of Biden’s call with the Floyd family was first confirmed by Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s younger brother, in an interview with NBC on Tuesday morning.
“He was just calling. He knows how it is to lose a family member, and he knows the process of what we’re going through,” Philonise Floyd said.
“So he was just letting us know that he was praying for us, hoping that everything will come out to be ok.”
Ex- cop Chauvin is accused of murdering George Floyd by kneeling on his neck. The alleged killing sparked massive Black Lives Matter protests across the world last year.
Philonise Floyd called for demonstrators who are likely to take to the streets once the trial verdict is revealed to be “peaceful” amid fears violence will break out.
He said: “But at the same time, I can’t stop people from doing the things that they’re doing because people are in pain. They’re hurt.”
So he was just letting us know that he was praying for us, hoping that everything will come out to be ok
Philonise Floyd on Joe Biden's phone call
Philonise Floyd said he was “optimistic” about the outcome of the trial.
He said: “Me and my family, we pray about it every day. I just feel that in America, if a black man can’t get justice for this, what can a black man get justice for?”
Thousands of as the city braces itself for riots when the verdict is given.
It comes as when the closing arguments were heard on Monday, with demonstrators brandishing signs that read “Blue Lives Murder” as they demanded justice for George Floyd.
Shops and businesses have boarded up doors and windows as the Minnesota city transformed into a fortress over the weekend, with vandals smearing pig’s blood and leaving a severed pig’s head at the home of an expert witness for his defense.
More than 1,100 officers from public safety agencies across Minnesota have also been brought in to help stem any potential unrest, as the city waits with bated breath over a verdict in Chauvin’s trial.
Some 3,000 guardsmen have also deployed by the Minnesota National Guard to assist cops as President Biden is said to be considering how to deal with the situation.
All schools in the city have also been moved to remote learning from Wednesday in anticipation of any violence.
A verdict could be returned as early as the end of this week after closing arguments in the trial were heard on Monday, with jurors retiring to mull Chauvin’s fate.
The former Minneapolis police officer is facing charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and third-degree manslaughter.
