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Candace Owens calls George Floyd a 'criminal drug addict', angry Americans say he was 'murdered by dirty cop'

'We’ve turned George Floyd, a criminal drug addict, into an icon... But we’re convinced it’s white supremacy that’s keeping black America behind. How stupid can we be?' she said

Conservative activist Candace Owens took to Twitter on Sunday, March 28, to go on a bizarre racist rant about the people of color she hates, implying that somehow White supremacy is justified. In her post, Owens, 31, also slammed rapper Lil Nas X, suggesting that his actions are "keeping Black America behind". The rapper on Sunday unveiled Satan Shoes, which reportedly contain 66 CCs of red ink and a drop of human blood in the sole.

"We’ve turned George Floyd, a criminal drug addict, into an icon. We are promoting Satan shoes to wear on our feet. We’ve got Cardi B named as woman of the year. But we’re convinced it’s white supremacy that’s keeping black America behind. How stupid can we be?" Owens said in the tweet.

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'We still must ask: Is he a hero?'

Owens referred to an earlier comment she made about the character of Floyd, whose death at the knee of a policeman in May 2020 sparked nationwide calls to overhaul police brutality and address racial injustice. In a video, the activist responded to GoFundMe's shutting off a fundraiser for restaurant owner Michael Dykes who said, among other things: “Mr Floyd was a thug, didn’t deserve to die but honoring a thug is irresponsible.”

GoFundMe stopped the fundraiser on grounds of "repeated pattern of inflammatory statements... against the black community at a time of profound national crisis". She said: “I don't care WHAT George Floyd did. The officer should have never treated him like that and killed him! But we still must ask: Is he a hero....The fact that he has been held up as a martyr sickens me,” reported the Independent in a June 2020 article, adding that the video was retweeted by former US president Donald Trump.

Following an avalanche of criticism for her comments on Floyd, Owens responded by saying, “I've had time to reflect on my video about #GeorgeFloyd and you guys were right — I was very wrong. He went to prison 9 times, not 7. I missed two earlier convictions for theft and drugs.”

'Addiction is not punishable by death'

Twitter was up in arms against Owens. "Having an addiction is not punishable by death in the street by a DIRTY cop," said a user. "It doesn't matter what his record was--George Floyd deserved due process, not summary execution," said another. "@RealCandaceO @CharlieWilson was a drug addict but we still listen to his music then and now... George Floyd was murdered for allegedly committing a misdemeanor, but mean while, white men are committing mass murders and being arrested alive, not shot dead and then handcuffed! Ok," said another.

One wrote, "George Floyd did not deserve to die the way he did even if he had issues with drugs, etc. You are blatantly painting black people as straight-up criminals instead of actually trying to fight the injustice they face everyday," and another said, "By your reasoning George Floyd somehow deserved to be murdered by the police? Is that how stupid you can go? Or is there more?"

'Police turned Floyd into an icon, not Blacks'

Others brought to light the matter of duty on behalf of law enforcement. "Doesn’t matter what mistakes George Floyd did. It brought to light the problems all races, especially minorities, have had to deal with our public servants who are supposed to SERVE AND PROTECT. Law enforcement needs a few tweaks Candace, talk about that," said one.

"The police turned George Floyd into an icon not Black ppl. Black America isn't promoting Satan shoes, you are, in this post. We didn't get Cardi B. named women of the year, her fans did. We aren't all fans. White supremacy is still impacting Black America. Stop your stupid," said another.

"George Floyd didn't deserve to be murdered by a dirty cop & he certainly doesn't deserve your disrespect. Your behavior is gross, Candace," one posted.

'Not a martyr'

Others agreed, at least in part, with Owens' tweet about Floyd who had multiple brushes with the law. "Did George not rob a pregnant woman at gunpoint recently? He did not deserve death in the slightest! However NEVER FUCKING compare him to MLK/Rosa Parks. They are American heroes who stood up for what they believed in. George Floyd caused a movement because CNN wanted him to," said one.

"But it's about objective truth though, not how it's "seen". 40 years from now George Floyd will still be objectively a criminal. 40 years ago, 40 years from now MLK was and will always be an activist. MLk was actively fighting for human rights. GF, with all due respect wasn't," said another.

People wondered why Floyd should be upheld as a role model instead of Black doctors, scholars and engineers. "I am in no way downplaying black suffering. This conversation commenced with my writing George Floyd is not a martyr in my opinion. I mention Candace Owens, now I’m a racist? They’re black doctors, engineers, scholars, teachers, athletes etc. one could aspire to be as role models," said a tweet.

This article contains remarks made by social media users and individual organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support any claims being made online.