Former President George W. Bush called Tuesday for peace and empathy following the “brutal suffocation” of George Floyd, an African-American man who died in …
Former President George W. Bush called Tuesday for peace and empathy following the “brutal suffocation” of George Floyd, an African-American man who died in police custody last week, and declared it was “time for America to examine our tragic failures.”
In arare public statement, Bush said he and former first lady Laura Bush were “anguished” by Floyd’s death and “disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country.”
Bush said they had “resisted the urge to speak out, because this is not the time for us to lecture. It is time for us to listen.”
“It remains a shocking failure that many African-Americans, especially young African-American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country,” Bush said.
Protests have been held around the country in response to Floyd’s death and in many cities, some have turned violent. In some instances, police responded with tear gas and pepper spray even as some governors and mayors faced criticism for not responding more forcefully.
President Donald Trump called governors “weak” and has pushed for those facing unrest to use the National Guard and “dominate the streets.” On Monday, law enforcement forcefully drove peaceful protesters out of the area around the White House before the city’s curfew began so the president could cross the street to St.
