U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday drew criticism by thanking George Floyd, a Black man who grew to become an emblem of the wrestle for racial justice, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was discovered responsible of murdering him.
During a information convention following Chauvin’s conviction on three legal counts, Pelosi referred to as the result “a step in the right direction for justice.”
“Thank you, George Floyd for sacrificing your life for justice,” Pelosi stated, referring to Floyd’s loss of life in May as Chauvin pinned his knee on Floyd’s neck for greater than 9 minutes.
The remark drew widespread criticism on-line.
“Speaker Pelosi’s comment about George Floyd was totally inappropriate. At a minimum, she should apologize,” stated Josh McLaurin, a Democratic member of the Georgia state legislature, on Twitter. “But more than that, I think the gaffe clarifies how much this country would benefit from a Black Speaker of the House.”
Black Representative Hakeem Jeffries, who holds a excessive place in House Democratic management, is seen as a potential future speaker or House majority chief.
The Pelosi-led House has handed the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” which goals to place a cease to aggressive legislation enforcement ways which have focused African Americans and different minorities.
The invoice, which has not but been thought-about by the Senate, would ban police chokeholds and no-knock warrants, restrict army gear utilized by police departments and require officers to put on physique cameras. It additionally would make it simpler to prosecute police misconduct.
Antonio Romanucci, a Chicago lawyer on the staff representing Floyd’s household, famous that Pelosi had twice referred to as the household on Tuesday.
“Our speaker is a great leader. She is somebody that wants to see this through,” Romanucci stated, referring to the invoice.
