Last Updated on June 26, 2020
While discussing the Democrat-led effort to create police reform at the federal level, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) referred to George Floyd, who was killed in Minneapolis police custody in May, as “George Kirby,” apparently mistaking him for an African American comedian popular in the 1940s.
Earlier today, Pelosi discussed naming the Democrats’ police reform legislation after Floyd, and revealed that Floyd’s family House Democrats to do so after assuring them that it would make a meaningful difference in the lives of African Americans.
Relaying this to the press, Pelosi fumbled Floyd’s name, instead calling him “George Kirby,” potentially confusing him with a popular comedian from the mid 20th century.
“I only will do that if you tell me that this legislation is worthy of George Kirby’s name,” said Pelosi. “He said it is, so we’re very proud. We’re very proud to carry that.”
Nancy Pelosi mistakes George Floyd’s name, calls him “George Kirby” while discussing the name of the Democrats' bill pic.twitter.com/GouW6MNGxK
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 26, 2020
Pelosi and House Democrats recently made headlines when they culturally appropriated traditional African attire and knelt for a period of time to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests across the country.
After kneeling, Pelosi, now 80-years-old, needed help to her feet, admitting that she could not stand up on her own.
All of the Democrats knelt except for the markedly obese Jerry Nadler, 72, who seemed to have nearly as much difficulty standing upright as Pelosi later did getting getting to her feet.
Pelosi, 80, can be seen in the footage making a gasping sound, before shooting out an arm to summon the help of an aide in assisting her to her feet. Sure enough, a woman and a man rush over and assist the octogenarian career politician in slowly being hauled to her feet.
Pelosi was also criticized earlier this year when, as President Donald Trump banned travel from China due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she went to San Francisco’s China Town and toured a fortune cookie factory to show solidarity with the Chinese-American community.
