WASHINGTON – Amy Coney Barrett said the death of George Floyd was “very personal” for her family, telling senators on Tuesday she “wept” with her 17-year-old daughter over the Minneapolis man’s death in May.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett asked about killing of George Floyd, racism in America
Barrett’s voice started to crack as she discussed the footage of a Minneapolis officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck and the ripple effect it had on her seven children, including the two she adopted from Haiti.
Barrett, President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, had been asked whether she saw the video during her Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday.
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In response to Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Barrett described sitting with her teenage daughter, who is Black, and crying.
“As you might imagine, given that I have two Black children, that was very, very personal for my family,” Barrett said about the footage.
Floyd, a Black man, died after an officer knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes in May. The footage of his death sparked massive protests in cities across the U.S. and discussions about racism in America.
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is sworn in during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is sworn in during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, left, speaks with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., before the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on Oct. 12, 2020.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows speaks to the media as he walks out during a break in the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
The children of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett wait for their mother to enter the hearing room.
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett arrives back in the room after a break during her confirmation hearing.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., speaks during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks virtually during a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett speaks during a confirmation hearing.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., speaks during the confirmation hearing.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., listens during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Activists opposed to the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, rally at Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020.
A name placard for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett sits on a table prior to a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett speaks during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, listens during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett smiles during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
A staffr member talks with Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, as Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett testifies.
Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett responds to a question from Democratic Senator from Vermont Patrick Leahy during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on October 13, 2020.
Protesters opposed to the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, rally on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.
Supporters of the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020.
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Barrett said when the video was publicized her husband was camping with their sons and she was home with her 17-year-old daughter, who was born in Haiti.
“All of this was erupting. It was very difficult for her,” Barrett said. “We wept together in my room.”
She noted that her family has had continued discussions about racism and how she tried to explain it to her young children.
“I mean, my children, to this point in their lives, have had the benefit of growing up in a cocoon where they have not experienced hatred or violence,” she said.
Durbin then asked whether there is racism still in the U.S. and whether it is systemic in America.
“I think it is an entirely uncontroversial and obvious statement, given that we just discussed the George Floyd video, that racism persists in our country,” Barrett said.
She added that while racism still is a problem, she could not say whether it is systemic or how to fix it.
“Those things are policy questions. They are hotly contested policy questions,” she said, noting that diagnosing the issue of racism was “beyond what I am capable of doing as a judge.”
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