U.S. Rep. Chip Roy slams NBA, Pelosi for not honoring police killed in line of duty

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, slammed the NBA and national party leaders for not honoring law enforcement officers killed this year in the line of duty.

In his emotional speech on the House floor Tuesday, Roy held up a large black sign with the number 43 printed in white, representing the number of fallen officers so far in 2020, and asked why the NBA and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have stayed silent about the deaths.

“Forty-three law enforcement officers that have been murdered, are their names on the back of any jerseys?” Roy asked. “Or, is that just for preening and posturing by the true privileged who play sports for a living?”

During the speech, the congressman, whose district encompasses parts of San Antonio and Austin, presented a mark-up of a basketball-style jersey with “# of Police Killed:” written above the number 43.

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He also slammed the NBA for not putting the names of business owners who suffered losses during riots in recent months and the coronavirus pandemic.

Roy said the number of law enforcement officers killed this year has increased by 40 percent as compared to the same period in 2019. He then listed off the ways officers have died: eight categorized as premeditated murder; two in unprovoked attacks; eight killed at point blank range; eight shot in the front of the head; two shot in the back of the head; six shot in the neck; nine shot in the chest.

“These were real people” Roy said. “Where are those names I just read of the officers who died in the line of duty this year?”

The congressman also put the blame on leaders like Pelosi, who he said “fomented” the incidents happening on the streets. He continually asked the empty chamber where she was instead of listening to his speech and wondered out loud why his colleagues weren’t on the floor voting for a resolution to honor the officers and not “standing up for law and order and security in the streets.”

Roy is in a tight race for Texas’ 21st Congressional District seat with democrat nominee Wendy Davis.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @TaylorPettaway

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