President Joe Biden is seeking to lead Democrats in a sweeping overhaul of the criminal justice system following a series of high-profile incidents in which black Americans have been killed by police, answering public cries for justice but also potentially endangering his party’s hard-won image for being tough on crime.
The delicate dance was on display Tuesday as Biden hailed the criminal conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin for killing George Floyd last year, an event caught on video that triggered racial justice protests across the country. “Again — as we saw in this trial, from the fellow police officers who testified — most men and women who wear the badge serve their communities honorably,” Biden said. “But those few who fail to meet that standard must be held accountable.”
