Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden to meet George Floyd's family

[June 08, 2020]  (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden will travel to Houston on Monday and meet with the family of George Floyd, two weeks after Floyd's death in police custody triggered nationwide protests over racial injustice, aides said.

Biden is expected to offer his sympathies to Floyd's relatives and record a video message for the private funeral service scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Floyd's hometown of Houston, two aides said. He is not expected to attend the service to avoid any disruption to mourners that could be caused by his Secret Service protective detail.

A public viewing is scheduled for Monday in Houston as well.

Floyd, an unarmed black man, died on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on the back of his neck for several minutes, even after he complained he could not breathe and appeared to lose consciousness. The incident was captured on video, setting off massive street demonstrations that have spread across the United States and around the world.

Biden has criticized President Donald Trump in recent days for his response to the protests, which have largely been peaceful but have occasionally led to violent clashes and property damage. Trump, a Republican, has called on authorities to crack down on protesters.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event about the U.S. economy at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware, U.S., June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

The trip to Texas comes as Biden's staff grapples with how to campaign safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Since widespread shutdowns began this spring, Biden has only left his Delaware home a handful of times but has not traveled farther than Philadelphia. He will face Trump in the Nov. 3 election.

Biden, the former vice president, is often praised by supporters for his ability to offer comfort to those in mourning. His first wife and infant daughter died in an automobile accident, and his son Beau died of brain cancer.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Joseph Ax; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Peter Cooney)

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