Nancy Pelosi Awkwardly Thanks George Floyd “For Sacrificing Your Life” Amid Chauvin Verdict
Derek Chauvin was convicted of all charges in the killing of George Floyd late Tuesday.
Amid the news that Derek Chauvin was convicted of all charges in the killing of George Floyd, Nancy Pelosi spoke on the verdict at the Congressional Black Caucus presser, giving a very awkward and strange quote in the process.
Speaker Pelosi at the Congressional Black Caucus presser after Chauvin verdict:
“Thank you George Floyd for sacrificing your life for justice.” pic.twitter.com/JfapSsKdtX
— The Recount (@therecount) April 20, 2021
“Thank you George Floyd for sacrificing your life for justice,” Pelosi begins. “For being there to call out to your mom, how heartbreaking was that, call out for your mom, ‘I can’t breathe.'”
“But 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.”
Despite its well-intent, the statement just reads off, as if Floyd willingly sacrificed for himself and wasn’t tragically murdered by a police officer.
The quote has understandable received backlash on social media.
Nancy Pelosi thanks George Floyd for being murdered pic.twitter.com/na0Fjoj891
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 20, 2021
The list of unforgivable things Nancy Pelosi has done and said is not a short list but I will never forget this one https://t.co/LhS8jIJWNY
— #SaveSheikhJarrah (@telushk) April 20, 2021
An absolutely bizarre statement from Nancy Pelosi about a man murdered by law enforcement pic.twitter.com/LEmFYHpWtW
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) April 20, 2021
Pelosi wasn’t the only one to offer a rather awkward quote on Floyd amid the Chauvin verdict — so did Minneapolis May Jacob Frey. Frey shared the following tweet: “George Floyd came to Minneapolis to better his life. But ultimately his life will have bettered our city. The jury joined in a shared conviction that has animated Minneapolis for the last 11 months. They refused to look away and affirmed he should still be here today.”
George Floyd came to Minneapolis to better his life. But ultimately his life will have bettered our city. The jury joined in a shared conviction that has animated Minneapolis for the last 11 months. They refused to look away and affirmed he should still be here today.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) April 20, 2021
Unlike Pelosi and Frey, Barack Obama actually offered a statement on the verdict that wasn’t awkward or tone deaf.
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The jury found Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in connection to the death of Floyd on May 25, 2020.
Chauvin is likely to appeal these charges, but will likely face further charges for civil rights violations in federal court. If the charges stick, Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison for the second-degree murder charges and up to 25 years for third-degree charges. Sentencing guidelines for a defendant with no criminal record, like Chauvin, is 12.5 years. Maximum sentencing for manslaughter charges is 10 years, but the aforementioned guidelines would likely call for a four-year sentence.
Chauvin will be sentenced eight weeks from now.
