Painful to be heard so far in media focused on the ravages of the coronavirus and the management of the crisis by Donald Trump, Joe Biden multiplies the declarations and meetings noted since the homicide by a white police officer of George Floyd who ignited the United States.
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Mask over his face, pacing a small church in his town of Wilmington, Delaware, he vowed on Monday to tackle " institutional racism " in his first 100 days in office, if he defeated Donald Trump on November 3.
In the evening, Joe Biden accused the Republican president of using the army " against the Americans " and tear gas against " peaceful demonstrators " for a communication operation, after the surprise and controversial visit of the republican billionaire to a church iconic close to the White House.
On Sunday, the Democrat met passers-by at the site of an anti-racism demonstration. And Tuesday, the former right-hand man of Barack Obama must go to Philadelphia to speak on the “ civil disturbances ” which shake the country.
After being accused of staying too far behind, locked up at home, even by some in his own camp, the septuagenarian seems to have caught his breath and to be ready to take a step forward with the relaxation of containment measures.
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Knee down
In front of fifteen religious and political leaders, the vast majority black, in the Wilmington church, Joe Biden, 77, had harsh words for Donald Trump, which he leads in national polls.
“ Hatred only hides. It does not disappear. And when someone in power blows hatred under the rocks, it comes out. The words of a president are important, ”he said.
After a prayer, Joe Biden had listened in silence, taking notes, for about an hour each of the speakers, some very moved by mentioning the death of George Floyd, 46, on May 25 in Minneapolis.
In this painful context, several participants urged Joe Biden to choose a running mate who would become the first black vice-president if he won in November. He reiterated to them that " several African American candidates " were on his list.
At the end of the meeting, Joe Biden put a knee on the ground during a family photo, in the front line in front of the participants.
Critics
It was the first time that the septuagenarian had personally participated in such a public meeting since mid-March, when the coronavirus pandemic suddenly paralyzed the presidential campaign.
He then organized a round table with the mayors of big cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta, shaken by the violence. The death of George Floyd is " not only intolerable but people are angry, (...) I am, " he said, while once again condemning the violence.
The Democratic candidate later shared what the victim's brother Philonise Floyd told him when he called him: " Promise me that justice will be done." Promise me that people will be held accountable. Promise me . "
Vice President Barack Obama for eight, Joe Biden is very popular with black Americans, a key electorate for any Democrat hoping to win the American presidential election. But he does not escape criticism for his past positions or comments. " In this room, we love you (...) But we are not here only to love you but also to push you ," a Delaware senator, Darius Brown, told him on Monday, calling on him to make proposals. concrete.
" During your eight years as vice-president, there have been many successes, but the African-American community has not experienced the same economic opportunities and social advancement that it experienced in the 1990s. "
