Joe Biden says George Floyd inspired ‘civil rights movement,’ urges Americans to ‘act in his memory’

President Joe Biden commemorated the fourth anniversary of George Floyd’s death with a social media post saying his death started a "civil rights movement" and that Americans should "act in his memory."  

“Today, I join all those who loved him and all those touched by the civil rights movement he inspired in remembering the tragedy and injustice of his death,” the post read from Biden. “He changed the world. Now, let’s act in his memory.”  

In addition to Biden's personal message, the White House released an official statement honoring Floyd.  

"The day before George Floyd’s funeral, his young daughter Gianna told me, 'Daddy changed the world.' Four years after her father’s murder, there is no doubt that he has," the statement read.   

“As we mark this solemn day tomorrow, we join George Floyd’s family in remembering his life and his legacy. We are vigilant of Black and brown communities who all too often have borne the brunt of injustice; and we recommit ourselves to honoring George Floyd’s legacy by ensuring our Nation lives up to its founding ideal that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives,” the statement continued.  

Floyd's death has continued to be used in political and social discourse with the portrayal of Floyd as a martyr. Recently, an art exhibit at Arizona State University depicted Floyd as Jesus Christ, with activists at the mural asserting that Floyd died for "each and every last one of us." Although Floyd's death was ruled as a murder in trial, the ruling has been questioned by many because Floyd had what was described as a lethal amount of fentanyl in his system at the time of his death.