Firebrand Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters dismissed Senator Kyrsten Sinema as 'that woman from Arizona' while slamming some congressional Democrats for not caring about police reform in the wake of the death of Tyre Nichols.
Waters slammed the former Democrat-turned-independent, as well as moderate and often swing-vote Democrat Senator Joe Manchin, for not 'giv(ing) a darn' about police reform legislation.
Reminiscing about her political career fighting for police reform, which dates back to the beating of Rodney King in the late 90s, she told MSNBC's Symone Sanders: 'We keep fighting, we keep begging, we keep doing everything that we possibly can.
Waters added that federal efforts to reform the police continue to fail because 'we don't have enough members who care enough about this issue.' The lawmaker spoke as a third night of protests erupted across the US.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters says Sens. Sinema and Machin 'don't give a darn' about the issue of police reform in the wake of the brutal beating and subsequent death of Tyre Nichols
'When you look at even two Democrats - Manchin of course, and of course that woman from Arizona - they don't give a darn about this issue. They would rather have the power to determine what happens in the Senate by using their two votes for themselves than anything else,' she said.
Sanders, viewers could see, mouthed the words 'Kyrsten Sinema,' when Waters referred to her dismissively and namelessly, but her microphone appeared to be cut.
Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of former Minneapolis police officers in 2020, Senator Sinema was one of many congressional detractors of the 'defund the police' movement that gained fast traction.
A spokesperson for the senator at the time told the Arizona Mirror, 'Kyrsten is focused on getting things done, and is working with colleagues in both parties on proposals including increasing the use of social workers and intervention strategies that keep Arizona families safe.'
In June of 2020, Manchin was among several Democrats who voted to open debate on the focused police reform bill introduced by Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.
In a statement following the death of Tyre Nichols, Manchin released a statement that read in part, 'This cannot be the America we strive for, and we must come together to meaningfully address it.
The five Memphis police officers, who are all black, were seen in bodycam footage using pepper spray and a stun gun against Nichols and repeatedly punching and kicking him as he was yelling for his mother.
Nichols eventually died in the hospital from the injuries he sustained during the beating. The five police officers, who were fired from the department last week, have each been charged with second-degree murder and a handful of other crimes in relation to the incident.
In the aftermath of the incident, President Biden called on the legislative branch to pass a police reform bill.
He expressed anger at what he saw in the footage of Nichols' interaction with the five officers.
'It is yet another painful reminder of the profound fear and trauma, the pain, and the exhaustion that Black and Brown Americans experience every single day,' he said in a statement.
Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin and Jeanne Shaheen during a press briefing on negotiations for the infrastructure package
Tyre Nichols holds an entertains a child with a cartoon on his phone
Tyre Nichols, 29, was beaten by five Memphis, Tennessee, cops on January 7 and died days later in the hospital. Previously unseen footage of his murder spurred the protests. Earlier this month, the Memphis PD said it had charged the five officers involved with murder
Protesters block traffic as they rally against the fatal police assault of Tyre Nichols, in Venice, California, on January 29, 2023
People gather to demand police reforms in the wake of the Tyre Nichols killing outside of the Memphis Police Department Ridgeway Station, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023
Protests have erupted across the US for a third night after brutal footage of the death of Nichols was released by Memphis police.
Cities across the US saw renewed demonstrations on Sunday. In Memphis, protesters chanting, 'Whose streets? Our streets!' angrily catcalled a police car that was monitoring the march, with several making obscene gestures.
Hundreds gathered in New York City's Washington Square Park before marching through Manhattan, as columns of police officers walked alongside them.
In Los Angeles, a small group of Antifa were seen smashing up businesses in what was a second night of rioting following the release of the Nichols police video.
Protesters in downtown Atlanta repeated Nichols' name and demanded justice. Around 40 people gathered in front of Philadelphia's City Hall to protest the killing.
English (United States)