Biden Attorney General Merrick Garland Calls Racism ‘An American Problem’

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Tuesday that “racism is an American problem.”

President Joe Biden’s AG made his comments during an ABC News interview with Pierre Thomas.

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While he wouldn’t reference the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial when asked, Garland did say, “I intend to wait until the verdict before I will say anything, and I would urge the American people to do the same.”

Garland’s answer here differs from other politicians who commented on the case before the verdict – President Joe Biden and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey among them.

When host Thomas asked Garland if he “believes there is bias and pockets of racism in law enforcement,” Garland replied, “Racism is an American problem.”

Garland added, “I think that.. umm.. it’s plain to me that there has been and remains discrimination against African-Americans and other communities of color, and other ethnic minorities.”

“I think it’s reflected in discrimination in housing and employment and the justice system. … We do not yet have equal justice under law,’ said Garland.

Garland also addressed the street violence that plagued the summer of 2020, “I also saw the videos last summer, all through the summer.”

Garland: ‘Many Black Americans Were Not Shocked’

Garland added, “I felt that beginning last summer, at least, there was a chance to bring this to the fore of the national consciousness, to create a moment in which we could change.”

“And like many Americans, I was shocked. But many black Americans were not shocked because they have known of this kind of treatment before,” the AG continued.

“And part of the reason that I wanted to be attorney general was I wanted to help bring that change,” he added. “All of us in our family feel an obligation – public service – and try to protect other people the way the country protected us.”

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Garland said that in his role as Attorney General he would have the “opportunity to do some very important things. I have the opportunity now to lead a Justice Department in pursuit of civil rights.”

“I have a chance to lead a Justice Department in pursuit of the rule of law and ensuring the independence of the department, and its independence — particularly — from any kind of partisan influence in the way we bring investigations or prosecutions,”  Garland finished.