Nancy Pelosi comments after the Derek Chauvin verdict. Photo / Twitter
A Minneapolis Police Department statement about the death of George Floyd has gone viral after being resurfaced in the wake of former cop Derek Chauvin's murder conviction.
"Seriously, read it again knowing what we know," CNN anchor Jake Tapper tweeted.
The statement, headlined "Man Dies After Medical Incident During Police Interaction", was issued on May 26, the day after Floyd's death, but has since been removed from the MPD's website.
"On Monday evening, shortly after 8pm, officers from the Minneapolis Police Department responded to the 3700 block of Chicago Avenue South on a report of a forgery in progress. Officers were advised that the suspect was sitting on top of a blue car and appeared to be under the influence," it reads.
"Two officers arrived and located the suspect, a male believed to be in his 40s, in his car. He was ordered to step from his car. After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later.
"At no time were weapons of any type used by anyone involved in this incident. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been called in to investigate this incident at the request of the Minneapolis Police Department. Body worn cameras were on and activated during this incident."
Tapper's post has been retweeted nearly 17,000 times.
"Makes you think – how many other incidents like this are reported by police departments in this manner?" one person commented. "This isn't an outlier."
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has come under fire for a bizarre comment about Floyd "sacrificing" his life in the wake of the Chauvin's guilty verdict.
"Thank you, George Floyd, for sacrificing your life for justice," the California Democrat told reporters after the former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty of murder on Tuesday.
"For being there to call out to your mom – how heartbreaking was that? – call out to 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."
Social media users widely panned the comment as tone-deaf.
"Yeah, that's not a good take," one wrote.
"Um I guess being murdered is … the same thing as sacrifice? Or something?" another said.
"An absolutely bizarre statement from Nancy Pelosi about a man murdered by law enforcement," a third said.
Some suggested it was time for the 81-year-old to step aside.
"It's time for a new Speaker," one person wrote.
"I know she's better at the game than many on the left want to believe but there's just no excuse for this. It's way beyond excusable. It's time for her to retire."
Another said, "W in THE actual F. Horrible way to frame this and look at it. Again Pelosi needs to retire and move on along with (Chuck) Schumer, (Mitch) McConnell and the rest of the dinosaurs."
In response to the criticism, Pelosi quickly tweeted out a statement.
"George Floyd should be alive today," she wrote.
"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 and pain, and we must enact the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act."
Chauvin, 45, now faces a maximum of 75 years after a jury found him guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second degree manslaughter over the death Floyd, 46, during an arrest on May 25, 2020.
Floyd's death sparked widespread "Black Lives Matter" protests and violent riots.
House Democrats have since passed sweeping criminal justice reforms, named in honour of Floyd, focused on reducing police violence and tackling alleged racial bias in law enforcement.
Pelosi said she hoped Tuesday's verdict would give the reforms momentum in the Senate. "We change the law, we're going down a different path altogether," she said.
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