Earlier this month, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised quite a few eyebrows when she presented Philonise Floyd a folded American flag, given that the gesture is specifically linked to honoring veterans. A day after George Floyd's funeral, his younger brother, Philonise Floyd testified at a House committee meeting in front of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
In his roughly five-minute speech, Philonise deemed his brother's death as a part of numerous senseless killings of black men by white police officers and urged the committee to stop the pain for several other families like his. He pointed out that people from different walks of life have teamed up to demand change, requesting the committee to honor those people, his brother, and make those much-needed changes that ensure law enforcement becomes the solution rather than the problem.
Philonise also noted that the demonstrators are an indication that enough is enough. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who wasn't one of the members of the committee, took to her Twitter to share a post to publicize her participation in the testimony and to prove to her followers that she supported Floyd's brother.
Donald Trump's supporters, veterans, and their families strongly criticized the tweet that was accompanied by photos showing Pelosi giving a presentation case with a folded American flag inside to Philonise Floyd. They argued this kind of gesture is specifically for the relatives of members of the country's police officers or Armed Forces after they die. A Twitterati took to the comments section to describe this gesture as a slap in the face to service members.
A former police officer and veteran Peggy Hubbard criticized Pelosi's action by sharing a viral Facebook video, wherein the House Speaker is seen making vague references to some people who have insulted the flag. Hubbard accused Democrats of committing an offense by presenting a folded American flag to Philonise Floyd, a gesture that is reserved for veterans.
In other news, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked committee chairs to require face masks in all hearings. Pelosi authorized the sergeant at arms to stop those who do not cover their face with a mask, a senior aide familiar with the request told The Washington Post in an email.
The move is likely to trigger new political tensions surrounding face coverings, which has been heavily politicized since Donald Trump refuses to wear masks in public and even pokes fun at his political opponents for wearing one. A GOP representative was asked to leave the Illinois House in May for refusing to wear a mask.