Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus flashed the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” gesture during remarks Monday on the House Floor in a show solidarity with protesters in Ferguson, Mo., and the St. Louis Rams players.
Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) and Al Green (D-Tex.), referred to the gesture that has come to symbolize the outrage over the death of Brown, the African American teen shot dead by police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9
“ ‘Hands up, don’t shoot’ is a rallying cry of people all across America who are fed up with police violence in … communities all across America,” Jeffries said.
Two of the members of Congress, Reps. Lee and Green, also offered their praise for the five St. Louis Rams who gave the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” signal on the field during a game Sunday night.
“I saw this clip where the Rams players came into the arena: ‘Hands up; don’t shoot’ … this has become the new symbol, a new statement,” Green said.
“I want to make sure that those who participated on the Rams team, that their names are chronicled in history … I want Kenny Britt to be recognized, Tavon Austin to be recognized, Stedman Bailey to be recognized, Jared Cook, Chris Givens, and Tre Mason.”
Not everybody stood behind the congressmen and women.
The move prompted criticism from at least one pundit on Tuesday, with MSNBC host Joe Scarborough calling it a disgrace.
“It’s a lie,” Scarborough angrily said on “Morning Joe” in reference to witness statements that Michael Brown didn’t have his hands up in the air when he was shot dead.
“What is wrong with this country? What is wrong with these people? What’s wrong with these elected officials, they know it’s a lie. They know the cops didn’t shoot him with his hands in the air. They know it’s a lie and they’re doing this on that Capitol floor?”
“Unbelievable … boy that would really be moving if that were the truth,” he added.
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