(This post may contain disputed claims. We make no assertions as to the validity of the information presented by our Opinion Columnist. We are an opinion blog, not a traditional news outlet, and this post should be treated as such. Enjoy.)After prominent House and Senate Democrats took a knee at Capitol Hill while wearing African kente cloth, they faced intense backlash for the political stunt. Their attempt to show solidarity with the radical Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd was even lambasted by the black community. None shredded them quite as thoroughly as Candace Owens. You don’t want to miss this.
In familiar Colin Kaepernick fashion, prominent House and Senate Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), took a knee on Capitol Hill on Monday as they announced police reforms in a bill dubbed the “Justice in Policing Act.”
In an attempt to show solidarity with the radical Black Lives Matter movement and the black community, following the death of George Floyd, the top Democrats wore African kente cloth scarfs, which “comes from Ghana, where people wear it to show patriotism or celebrate a special occasion,” as noted by The Washington Post.
Adorned with the African scarves, the Democrat politicians took a knee in silence together in Emancipation Hall for eight minutes and 46 seconds. The gesture was a nod to Floyd, who died after a police officer pinned his knee to the 46-year-old’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds during an arrest. A video of the incident went viral, sparking widespread outrage. And, you know what they say about Democrats: They don’t let any tragedy go to waste.
Even though all four officers involved in the arrest have been fired, investigations from the FBI and state law enforcement have been opened, the officer at the center of the incident was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, and the other three officers were also later charged, many are still demanding more be done.
This brings us to the prominent Democrats and their photo-op. As you might have guessed, not everyone was impressed.
Candace Owens, the outspoken African-American Brexit founder, was quick to react to the political stunt, excoriating the Democrats for stopping at “nothing” in their attempts to pander to the black community in hopes of getting the “black vote.”
“I have to say— I thought there was at least one or two things that the Democrats wouldn’t stoop to for the black vote, but there is apparently nothing,” Owens tweeted, mocking the move. “Dressing in African garb and getting on their knees for a photo op because it’s Monday, & only 4 months to November.”
I have to say— I thought there was at least one or two things that the Democrats wouldn’t stoop to for the black vote, but there is a apparently nothing.
Dressing in African garb and getting on their knees for a photo op because it’s Monday, & only 4 months to November. pic.twitter.com/ZbEjor2R89
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) June 9, 2020
Following Floyd’s death, Owens has been a vocal critic of the media narrative surrounding the incident. Last week, the conservative commentator released an explosive video, explaining why she does “not support George Floyd and the media depiction of him as a martyr for black America,” Daily Wire reported.
In the impassioned video post, Owens criticized what she describes as the African-American community “cater[ing] to the bottom denominator of our society” by “demand[ing] support and justice for the people in our community that are up to no good.” She also suggested that the holding up of Floyd as a “martyr for black America” is an example of this trend that she forcefully rejects.
Pelosi, of course, sees things differently. “The martyrdom of George Floyd gave the American experience a moment of national anguish as we grieve for the black Americans killed by police brutality today,” the House Speaker said during the kneeling event.
“This moment of national anguish is being transformed into a movement of national action as Americans from across the country peacefully protest to demand an end to injustice,” Pelosi added. “Today, with the justice and policing at the Congress is standing with those fighting for justice and taking action.”
The unveiling of the “Justice in Policing Act,” which was the first time House and Senate legislators have met together in months since the start of a coronavirus-related lockdown which kept Congressional legislators working from home, wasn’t met with the praise the pandering politicians had hoped to receive.
And, Candace Owens wasn’t alone in her criticism. Many saw it for what it was: A disingenuous act by politicians who are part of the problem.
A man died during a police-involved incident in a Democrat-run city that has been dominated by Democrat mayors for more than 40 years. The Democrats own this. And, history is repeating itself.
Once again, Democrats are running on platforms that promise to rid our community of this type of heinous behavior, but their promises will again be forgotten once they get the black votes they need to stay in office. It’s time Americans stop falling for it.
