(Headline USA) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) sparked outrage Tuesday over her comments following the guilty verdict for Derek Chauvin, the police officer convicted of killing George Floyd.
“Thank you George Floyd for sacrificing your life for justice,” Pelosi said following the jury’s decision. “For being there to call out to your mom ― how heartbreaking was that? Call out for your mom, ‘I can’t breathe.’ Because of you and because of thousands, millions of people around the world who came out for justice, your name will always be synonymous with justice.”
Pelosi: “Thank you George Floyd for sacrificing your life for justice … Because of you and because of thousands, millions of people around the world who came out for justice, your name will always be synonymous with justice.” pic.twitter.com/JfapSsKdtX
— The Recount (@therecount) April 20, 2021
Pelosi made the comments at a press conference with other lawmakers.
Social media exploded with criticism of Pelosi from, particularly her use of the phrase, “thank you for your sacrifice.”
The attacks came from both sides of the aisle.
“He was murdered,” tweeted liberal activist DeRay McKesson.
I know someone wrote this for her. Someone else edited the draft. Most likely yet another person approved it. And then she said it. This is a long trail of fail. https://t.co/dXQpkyqR1K
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) April 20, 2021
More proof the Democrats are about social justice and influencing their agenda than true, meaningful justice.
This is disgusting from Pelosi. pic.twitter.com/NwqUHT5wOe
— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) April 21, 2021
You have to imagine Pelosi tried that line out on people around her earlier and they nodded along as if it wasn’t one of the most offensive things they’d ever heard.
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) April 21, 2021
Isn’t it just a little creepy for Nancy Pelosi to thank George Floyd for being killed?https://t.co/dZTwgGnjko
— Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) April 20, 2021
Pelosi thanking George Floyd for his “sacrifice” continues the tradition of White people in power seeing us as Black pawns on their ivory chess boards. George Floyd’s life mattered before he was murdered.
— Albert Lee (@AlbertLee2020) April 21, 2021
Did … did Nancy Pelosi just thank George Floyd for dying? https://t.co/fTuawe3GgY pic.twitter.com/JLWkaaV1Fx
— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) April 20, 2021
Nancy Pelosi and the Raiders an odd combo to be gettin dragged right now
— Rev. Eric Dunn (@ericvdunn) April 21, 2021
If you think Pelosi was going to apologize you clearly weren’t paying attention to her defense of Maxine Waters.
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) April 20, 2021
Nancy Pelosi: makes some questionable word choices
The Raiders: Hold Our Beer https://t.co/fDySyjY6BX
— Mia O’Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) April 20, 2021
After reporters, pundits and others continued to pile on, Pelosi released another tweet trying to clean up the mess.
“George Floyd should be alive today,” Pelosi said on Twitter. “His family’s calls for justice for his murder were heard around the world. He did not die in vain. We must make sure other families don’t suffer the same racism, violence & pain, and we must enact the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicing Act.”
George Floyd should be alive today. His family’s calls for justice for his murder were heard around the world. He did not die in vain. We must make sure other families don’t suffer the same racism, violence & pain, and we must enact the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicing Act. https://t.co/tWln9NRg1g
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 20, 2021