WASHINGTON, D.C. -- North Carolina leaders on Capitol Hill are roundly expressing shock over the death of George Floyd, describing the video as “heinous” and “tragic.”

For Rep. Alma Adams, D-12th District, it hit home, underscoring long-standing problems of racial inequality.

“I have a son I worry about. I have grandchildren that I worry about,” Adams says. “Black folks: we’re just sick and tired of all of the racism and injustice.”

Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police has had ripple effects, prompting protests in North Carolina and across the country. Peaceful gatherings at times have given way to shattered glass and vandalized buildings.

“I’m still reeling from this weekend. I’ve lost a lot of sleep thinking about it,” Adams says.

Congressional lawmakers of both stripes condemned the acts of violence.

“It takes away from the conversation that we need to have. The conversation needs to be about racism and poverty and police misconduct,” says Rep. GK Butterfield, D-1st District.

“It immediately puts people in the partisan corners,” says Rep. Mark Walker, R-6th District.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s handling of this national crisis is coming under scrutiny, with several Democrats accusing him of fanning the flames with his tweets and rhetoric.

“In times of crisis, the president must be the moral leader. We do not have a moral leader in this White House,” Butterfield says. “I’m not sure President Trump stepping out trying to exert leadership will be constructive.”

Asked about the president’s approach, Walker said the president “can certainly stretch even further, augment his empathy.”

However, he says, “If you are attacked the way that he is every single day, it’s hard to get to a level playing field to even offer that voice. Is there anything that he can say that people would say, ‘Well, that was a presidential moment?’”