Former President George W Bush broke his silence over the tragic death of George Floyd while in police custody. The ex-Governor of Texas joined the many former presidents who decried the killing of the African American guy that launched a series of protests across the country.

George W Bush admitted that he was tormented by the brutal way of killing George Floyd. But, he could not help but question the way the protesters demanded justice. He said that equity, liberation, and progress would never come by "looting and destruction."

In his first statement, the 73-year-old and his wife, the former First Lady Laura Bush, revealed they were stopping themselves from speaking out as it was not the right time to lecture but to listen. They said that there was a strength when protesters, who were protected by responsible law enforcement, came together to march for a better future, Independent noted.

The couple continued that the only way for everyone to see themselves in the true light was to listen to the cries of the many people who were hurting and grieving. Now, those who tried to silence these cries never understood the real meaning of America or how it managed to become a better place.

However, although George W Bush commended the protesters for fighting the rights of Black people, he stressed that they could only attain justice if they would choose a better way to do this. They could only succeed through "empathy and peace rooted in justice."

He explained that justice would be served if it would only come by peaceful means, insisting that looting was never liberation and destruction was not progress. Anyhow, he also knew that lasting peace in the communities needed a true equal justice. The rule of law depends on the "fairness and legitimacy of the legal system," and achieving justice is everyone's duty.

Meanwhile, the killing of George Floyd quickly went viral online. A Minneapolis police officer, named Derek Chauvin, pinned the victim to the ground on Memorial Day. According to ABC News, he was arrested outside a convenience store for, allegedly, using a counterfeit $20 bill.

Derek Chauvin put his knee on George Floyd's neck for almost 10 minutes. The victim could be repeatedly heard that he could not breathe and that ultimately led to his death. The police officer was charged with third-degree murder, while all the four officers involved were all fired. The investigation is now ongoing.

The death of George Floyd incited a series of protests, not just in Minnesota but in different states across the country. Although some demonstrations are peaceful, others are violent and destructive. Hence, a lot of cities started to impose curfews, and governors are already calling the help of the National Guard.