Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) has repeatedly appeared to encourage her Democratic supporters to engage in political violence. Here are four key examples of times Waters has arguably incited violence for political gain.
1. At the “Keep Families Together” rally in 2018, Waters encouraged supporters to harass Trump administration cabinet members.
Speaking at a protest against Trump’s immigration policies, Waters appeared to call for the harassment of members of Trump’s administration.
“If you see anybody from that cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them,” Waters told the audience. “And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere.”
2. She reinforced calls for Democrats to “be more forceful, more confrontational” against the Trump administration.
Waters doubled down on her rhetoric shortly after the “Keep Families Together” protest. Rather than denouncing violence, the congresswoman told MSNBC’s Joy Reid “the people” want to see that type of action.
“Yes, people do want to see us be stronger and more forceful and to confront them on these policies and I’m hopeful that even Democrats, having seen the kind of outpouring of protests over 700 incidents of protest this weekend, seeing that, they will be more forceful, more confrontational and more prepared to push back on this administration,” the congresswoman said. “I think that the people are showing them this is what they would have us do.”
In an interview w/ Joy Ann Reid, Rep. Waters then doubled down on her call to be “more confrontational” w/ Republicans pic.twitter.com/SnXfHc6hJg
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 8, 2021
3. Waters referred to the Rodney King riots in 1992 as a “rebellion.”
As The Daily Wire reported, Congressman Waters led a “no justice, no peace” chant during the Los Angeles riots. Instead of referring to the violence and destruction as riots, she referred to them as a “rebellion.”
“If you call it a riot it sounds like it was just a bunch of crazy people who went out and did bad things for no reason,” Waters said. “I maintain it was somewhat understandable, if not acceptable.”
Even worse, she defended black residents that looted Korean-owned stores, which bore the brunt of the riots’ damage.
“There were mothers who took this as an opportunity to take some milk, to take some bread, to take some shoes… They are not crooks,” Waters said at the time.
4. As Chauvin trial concludes, Waters said Americans need to “demand justice” in the George Floyd trial.
Waters once again called for supporters to be “confrontational” and “demand justice” for the death of George Floyd as the Chauvin trial draws to a close, The Daily Wire reported.
“Well, we’ve got to stay in the street, and we’ve got to get more active, we’ve got to get more confrontational, we’ve got to make sure they know that we mean business,” the congresswoman told reporters.
“We’re looking for a guilty verdict. We’re looking for a guilty verdict. And we’re looking to see if all of this [inaudible] that took place and has been taking place after they saw what happened to George Floyd,” Waters continued. “If nothing does not happen, then we know, that we’ve got to not only stay in the street, but we’ve got to fight for justice, but I am very hopefully that I hope that we’re going to get a verdict that will say guilty, guilty, guilty. And if we don’t, we cannot go away.”
“We’re looking for a guilty verdict. We’re looking for a guilty verdict. And we’re looking to see if all of this [inaudible] that took place and has been taking place after they saw what happened to George Floyd,” Waters continued. “If nothing does not happen, then we know, that we’ve got to not only stay in the street, but we’ve got to fight for justice, but I am very hopefully that I hope that we’re going to get a verdict that will say guilty, guilty, guilty. And if we don’t, we cannot go away.”
When a reporter asked if Chauvin should be charged with anything on top of manslaughter, she said it should be “murder.”
“Oh, no. Not manslaughter,” Waters said, holding up her arms. “[He] is guilty for murder. I don’t know if it’s in the first degree, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s in the first degree.”
Although Waters doesn’t plan on staying in Minneapolis to protest, she said she hopes “the protest will continue.”
WATCH: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) says that BLM protesters should "stay on the street" and get "more confrontational" if Chauvin isn't found guilty of murder this week pic.twitter.com/bu5NkOcn87
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 18, 2021
Beth Baumann is a Political Reporter and Editor at The Daily Wire. Follow her on Twitter @eb454.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.