George Floyd Family Press Conference Transcript After Meeting with Joe Biden

Ben Crump: (00:01) I'm attorney Ben Crump, along with attorney Chris Stewart, attorney Tony Romanucci, and attorney Justin Miller, and also National Bar President CK Hoffler. We have present with us here the family of George Floyd and some of their dear friends. We have Rodney Floyd, we have Philonise Floyd, we have Terrence Floyd, we have Brandon Williams. Obviously, we have this little angel, her mother Roxie is here with Gianna. We have [Dominique 00:00:38] and William who are close personal friends as well, present here. Ben Crump: (00:43) Briefly, the brothers will address you. The President and the Vice President met with the family for over an hour, and they're going to tell you some things that happened in that meeting. I know the President was very personal because he got to know this family over the years, and he wanted to check on them, on today of all days, to see how they were doing, to reiterate that they are still doing everything to make sure that his legacy is respected, and that involves us going to meet with senators in just a few moments to continue to press forward for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that he says he is ready to sign any day. Ben Crump: (01:35) He said that he doesn't want to sign a bill that doesn't have substance and meaning, so he is going to be patient to make sure it's the right bill, not a rush bill. Also, the family encouraged the President to continue to meet with the civil rights leaders and advocacy groups who have been working on this for decades, like Reverend Al, and the NAACP, and the National Urban League, and many others. Ben Crump: (02:06) So with that, I will present to you, Philonise Floyd. Philonise Floyd: (02:09) How are you all doing? Speaker 3: (02:14) How are you doing? Speaker 4: (02:14) Good, son, how are you? Philonise Floyd: (02:18) I'm doing great. Yes, we met with the President and the VP. It was just about a remembrance of what happened to my brother because this was his day that he was murdered. Philonise Floyd: (02:33) It was great, he's a genuine guy. They always speak from the heart, and it's a pleasure just to be able to have a chance to be with him we have that opportunity to. We just thankful for what's going on, and we just want this George Floyd Policing Act to be passed in the future. Speaker 4: (02:50) Mr. Floyd? Speaker 3: (02:52) Could I ask you real quick, is there a message you want the American people to know? Philonise Floyd: (02:54) No. Because this thing, if you can make federal law to protect a bird, which is the bald eagle, you can make federal laws to protect people of color. [crosstalk 00:03:06] Ben Crump: (03:09) Now we will have his brother, Rodney Floyd. Rodney Floyd: (03:12) How are you guys doing? Today is about the remembrance of our brother, George Floyd, father, uncle, friend, cousin. And Mr. President and Vice President gave us their condolence and just keeping up, touching back on what happened last year, reiterating everything. They asked us how we were doing, are we taking care of ourselves, [inaudible 00:03:39] counseling, and asked us all about how we feeling and what's going on about today about our brother. And we thankful that they show great concern, and, yeah. Speaker 4: (03:53) Mr. Floyd, did President Biden offer any reassurance that he would personally make sure- Ben Crump: (03:58) Now you will hear from Terrence Floyd. We may take one or two questions at the end. Maybe. Terrence Floyd: (04:04) Hello everyone. Hello, hello. Being here today, it's an honor to meet with the President and the Vice President, and for them to show their concern to our family, and for them to actually give and ear to our concerns and how we feel on the situation. And I feel it was a very productive conversation, and I'm grateful for it, and I thank everybody for the love. Thank you. Ben Crump: (04:33) And now you will hear from Brandon Williams, the nephew of George Floyd, who was like a son to him. Brandon Williams: (04:41) How are you all doing? Speaker 3: (04:41) Pretty good, how are you doing? Speaker 4: (04:43) How are you doing? Brandon Williams: (04:44) I'm great. I think it was a very great meeting. We're very appreciative and grateful that the President and Vice President invited us here. I think that the meeting went well. He showed concern, and I think generally he wants to know exactly how we were doing and what he could do to support us. And he did let us know that he supports passing the bill, but he wants to make sure that it's the right bill and not a rush bill. He said the deadline, he's not happy about it not being met, but all in all, he just wants the bill to be right and meaningful, and that it holds George's legacy intact. Thank you. Ben Crump: (05:22) And now you'll here from my co-counsels. It's always a team effort, and we have a great thing that standing with the family, a great legal team. Attorney Chris Stewart. Chris Stewart: (05:34) On behalf of Roxie and I turn it Chris stolen on behalf of Roxy, [inaudible 00:05:36], Justin, my law partner, the President actually interacted and played with Gianna, she had an absolute ball, and that's why this may be a sad day across the country, but this was a super happy day seeing her smile like... She's still smiling. So if everybody could just come together, Democrat, Republican, and pass the bill. If you care about policing and the people, it'll get passed. Ben Crump: (05:56) That was great. Now we will hear from attorney Tony Romanucci, another great co-counsel. Tony Romanucci: (06:04) Good day, everybody, nice to see you all. I think what's important about today, commemorating the one year date of George Floyd's death, is that we need this bill passed. Here's why we need it passed: We need to protect lives as opposed to take life. We need people saved on the streets of our country as opposed to being unnecessarily shot by police. That's what's so important about this day, that's why I'm so proud to be standing with the Floyd family today, being a representative, and fighting for this bill to make sure it is meaningful and substantial. Thank you all. Speaker 4: (06:40) Mr. Crump? Ben Crump: (06:42) Now we will hear briefly from attorney Justin Miller, and we have one more speaker after that. Justin Miller: (06:49) Good afternoon. The important thing to remember, and I think everyone's spoken on different things, but the important thing I want everyone to remember is this, there have been other bills that have been passed in the last three months protecting different groups of people. This group of people needs to be protected too. And this started a long time ago. There were some things that started a lot sooner that got protected a lot faster. And so we just ask that you, if you're out there watching, urge your congressmen, urge your senator, to pass this bill because it's very, very important. Thank you. Speaker 3: (07:24) Like [inaudible 00:07:24]? Ben Crump: (07:26) And then finally, before we take a question or two, is our National Bar Association President, attorney CK Hoffler. CK Hoffler: (07:35) Good afternoon. Speaker 3: (07:37) Good afternoon! CK Hoffler: (07:39) Justice for one is justice for all. On behalf of the over 66,000 mostly African-American lawyers in this country and globally, we must support the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. We don't have a choice. Unless we want to see the carnage that we've seen happen over, and over, and over again, and that's not acceptable. So please call your senator, impress upon everybody in your community that we've got to do this. We've got to pass it. Thank you. Speaker 3: (08:15) Mr. Crump, sir? Ben Crump: (08:15) All right, let's head back in. Ben Crump: (08:15) All right, we're going to just do this one time for his family back in Houston and North Carolina who couldn't be here, we're going to all raise our fists and say his name. Gianna [inaudible 00:08:28]. Say, "Say his name," put your fist up- Speaker 3: (08:33) Down in front. Ben Crump: (08:35) ... and say, "Say his name." Gianna Floyd: (08:42) Say his name. All: (08:42) George Floyd. Ben Crump: (08:42) Lord, let's say it again. Roxie Washington: (08:42) Say it, [inaudible 00:08:43]. Gianna Floyd: (08:42) Say his name. All: (08:42) George Floyd.