WASHINGTON \u2014 House Democrats on Tuesday blocked an effort to censure Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., for\u00a0telling protesters in Minnesota\u00a0to get more “confrontational” if a jury finds\u00a0former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin not guilty in the death of George Floyd.<\/p>\n
The House voted 216-210 along party lines to table a Republican motion to censure the California Democrat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Asked what activists should do in the case of an acquittal in the Chauvin trial, Waters said Saturday: \u201cWell, we\u2019ve got to stay on the street. And we\u2019ve got to get more active,” adding, \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get more confrontational. We\u2019ve got to make sure that they know that we mean business.\u201d<\/p>\n
The comments ignited conservatives, who said her words were calls for violence. <\/p>\n
“Maxine Waters believes there is value in violence,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who said Waters’ past comments calling for protesters to be confrontational to Trump administration officials showed a “pattern” that “needs action” from lawmakers.<\/p>\n
Democrats had been dismissive of the effort, pointing out that a majority of House Republicans supported efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n
“Lauren Boebert is a mess. Matt Gaetz is a mess. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a mess. Clean up your mess, Kevin. Sit this one out. You’ve got no credibility here. We support peaceful protests,” House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said\u00a0Tuesday.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., defended Waters, noting that her comments did not specify any violent actions.<\/p>\n
“Maxine talked about confrontation in the manner of the civil rights movement,” Pelosi said. “I myself think we should take our lead from the George Floyd family. They’ve handled this with great dignity and no ambiguity or lack of \u00a0misinterpretation by the other side. No, I don’t think she should apologize.”<\/p>\n