Biden to attend George Floyd’s funeral

Biden’s attendance was announced after the two-term vice president and presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee addressed the nation from Philadelphia’s City Hall. Biden’s speech in his neighboring state came as angry protests sparked by the police custody death of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, continue to upend the country.

“’I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe,'” Biden said Tuesday in his first campaign event out of Delaware since the COVID-19 outbreak. “George Floyd’s last words. But they didn’t die with him. They’re still being heard. They’re echoing across this nation.”

Floyd died last Monday after Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin was caught on camera pinning him down by the neck for almost nine minutes. Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Three other officers who were with him at the time were fired. However, they have not been pressed with any charges.

In response, demonstrations (some peaceful, some violent) have been held in major cities over the past week from Minneapolis to Washington. Yet, in a speech shared by former President Barack Obama, Floyd’s family has called for calm, imploring activists to raise their voices against police brutality and racial justice in more constructive ways.

“Let’s do this another way. Let’s stop thinking our voice don’t matter and vote. Not just for the president,” Terrence Floyd said. “Educate yourself and know who you’re voting for. And that’s how we’re going to hit ’em.”