Biden: U.S. cannot "again turn away from racism"

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said on Tuesday the U.S. cannot "again turn away from racism that stings at our very soul."

The former vice president made the remarks in a speech via video at George Floyd's funeral, noting that if justice is served for Floyd, the U.S. will be on its way to racial justice.

"We can't turn away. We must not turn away. We cannot leave this moment thinking we can again turn away from racism that stings at our very soul, from systematic abuse that still plagues American life," CNN quotes Biden.

Biden sympathized with Floyd's 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, following the death of her father.

"I know you have a lot of questions, honey. No child should have to ask questions that too many black children have had to ask for generations. Why? Why's daddy gone?" he said.

Earlier, the 77-year-old in an interview with CBS news, said Floyd's death was "one of the great inflection points in American history."

George Floyd died on 25 May after a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes as he and his colleagues arrested him.

An onlooker's cell phone recorded the incident showing the 46-year-old black man moaning, "Please, I can't breathe" and "Don't kill me" as the police officer pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck.

After several minutes of the police office pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck, the victim went silent and was later pronounced dead.

The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread protest from Tuesday afternoon, some of which have deteriorated into chaos.

In the two weeks since his death, protests has spilled beyond the U.S. as countries across the world show solidarity with the demonstrators seeking justice for Floyd's family.

(CGTN)