House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is showing her support for protesters outside the U.S. Capitol Building.
Protesters gathered outside the Capitol Building on Wednesday to demand police reforms and voice their outrage at the death of George Floyd.
In the afternoon, Pelosi greeted the protesters and walked with them:
Speaker Pelosi is at the protests… pic.twitter.com/9NR01fXcdd
— Robert Costa (@costareports) June 3, 2020
#BREAKING: Speaker Nancy Pelosi meets with protesters on Capitol Hill https://t.co/NpK8YJNYBc pic.twitter.com/hUBXTh9Xob
— The Hill (@thehill) June 3, 2020
MY leader walks with protesters without smoke canisters or billy clubs …. #speakerpelosi #justiceforgeorgefloyd #blacklivesmatter #endracialprofiling pic.twitter.com/R9qhBoijvG
— Christine Pelosi (@sfpelosi) June 3, 2020
In a tweet, Pelosi called for Congress to “address deadly use of force by police and reform policing practices.
Stopping police violence must be a priority in this country if we are to ever come to terms with America’s history of racial injustice. Congress must address deadly use of force by police and reform policing practices. #BlackLivesMatter
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 3, 2020
Social media users quickly compared the moment to Monday when protesters outside the White House were dispersed by law enforcement.
On Monday, protesters at the White House were dispersed about a half-hour before a curfew was set to go into effect. After the area was cleared, Trump walked from the White House to the historic St. John’s Church —which was damaged in previous demonstrations — where he posed for a picture with a Bible.
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted Trump for the photo-op in a joint-statement, as IJR reported.
“At a time when our country cries out for unification, this President is ripping it apart,” the statement read.
It continued, “Tear-gassing peaceful protestors without provocation just so that the President could pose for photos outside a church dishonors every value that faith teaches us.”
“We call upon the President, law enforcement and all entrusted with responsibility to respect the dignity and rights of all Americans. Together, we must insist on the truth that America must do much more to live up to its promise: the promise of liberty and justice for all, which so many have sacrificed for – from Dr. King to John Lewis to peaceful protestors on the streets today.”
“At this challenging time, our nation needs real leadership. The President’s continued fanning of the flames of discord, bigotry, and violence is cowardly, weak and dangerous,” they added.
The move also drew criticism from some Republican senators. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) told Politico, “If your question is, should you use tear gas to clear a path so the president can go have a photo-op, the answer is no.”
