United States: Biden signs executive orders to fight racial inequality
A protester holds a "Black Lives Matter" flag during a protest at the State Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, the day of Joe Biden's inauguration.
AP - Rich Pedroncelli
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
This Tuesday, Joe Biden signed four decrees devoted to the fight against racial inequalities.
The first puts an end to the use of private prisons for the incarceration of federal prisoners, a measure to try to fight against criminal injustices which mainly affect minorities.
The other three strengthen the fight against discrimination in the field of housing, against racism against Americans of Asian origin - which exploded during the pandemic - and finally, aims to renew the dialogue between the administration and the Native American tribes.
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With our correspondent in Washington,
Anne Corpet
“
Georges Floyd's
8 minutes and 46 seconds of martyrdom
opened the eyes of millions of Americans and people around the world,
” begins Joe Biden.
"
It marked a turning point in the fight against racial injustices
."
And the President adds, “
Now is the time to act.
It is time to act because this is what our faith and our morals command us to do.
I believe this nation and this government need to change their whole approach to the problem of racial inequality.
This means that this problem of racial inequality should not be that of a ministry.
It must concern the whole government.
"
The four executive orders signed by the president will not be enough to solve the problem of racism in American society, but they will provide tools for those who
fight against discrimination
.
“
You can't eliminate racism overnight,
” admitted Joe Biden, “
but I think the nation is ready to change.
The president assures in any case that the fight against racial inequalities will be at the heart of the daily action of his government.
►
To listen and read also: In the United States the coronavirus exacerbates racial inequalities
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United States
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