George Floyd’s sister has boycotted a meeting with US President Joe Biden, saying he “broke a promise” to enact police reform legislation by the anniversary of her brother’s death.
Bridgett Floyd attended a rally in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but other family members lobbied President Biden at the White House to help pass the bill.
After meeting the president and Vice-President Kamala Harris at the White House, Floyd’s brother, Philonise, told reporters: “If you can make federal laws to protect the bird which is the bald eagle, then you can make federal laws to protect people of colour.”
On Tuesday cities in the US and abroad marked a year since Floyd’s death.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted last month of the murder of Floyd,after kneeling on his neck area for more than nine minutes .
Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison when the sentence will be issued on 25th June.
Senate Democrats last June blocked a police reform bill proposed by a black Republican senator, Tim Scott of South Carolina. They argued it did not go far enough.
Senate Republicans oppose a police reform bill passed in March by House of Representatives Democrats, the main stumbling block being its provision to make it easier for individual police officers to be sued and charged with crimes.
President Biden has also been pressed by Black Lives Matter and other activists to stop military equipment being supplied to police forces.