Early Friday morning, Police responded to reported vandalism at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home.
What We Know:
- On New Year’s Day, around 2 a.m., police were called to Pelosi’s house after her garage door was defaced with graffiti reading, “2k? (crossed out), CANCEL RENT! We want everything!” The words were accompanied by the letters “UBI,” referring to Universal Basic Income- a government program where all adult citizens receive a set amount of money on a regular set basis. The vandals also included a circled letter “A” usually associated with the anarchist symbol and a severed pig’s head in her driveway surrounded by fake blood.
- The vandalism follows the rejection of $2000 stimulus checks for coronavirus relief as insisted by Trump and many Democratic leaders, such as Pelosi. The House Speaker was among the 275 representatives who voted in favor of the increased stimulus against the 134 who did not.
“Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need,” said Pelosi in regards to the legislation.
- Ultimately the increased relief checks were blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He attacked efforts to provide people with $2000, calling the proposal “socialism for the rich.” McConnell alleged that Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were creating a bill that would give “thousands of dollars to people who don’t need the help.”
- The vandalized garage door was covered with trash bags by Friday afternoon while the pig’s head and blood were removed. It is believed Pelosi was present at her Washington DC home when the events took place. As of now, the San Francisco police have not shared any details about suspects. The house and neighborhood both have several cameras that may be of use to police in their investigation.
- Residents of the Pacific Heights neighborhood disclosed mixed feelings about the vandalism. “There are a lot of unresolved issues, and I don’t think this is a useful way to go about it and a terrible start to this New Year,” said Audrey Carlson, who has lived there for 38 years. Another resident, Bell Wahlen, said, “Government should be doing all they can to give people assistance during this time.”
- San Francisco State Associate Political Science Professor Jason McDaniel believes this type of protest is a display of the “understandable frustration” people have. However, he cautions people to “see leaders as reflections of us.” “They are human – people,” he says.
On Tuesday evening, millions of Americans began to receive $600 stimulus payments, much less than the proposed $2000 Americans in need were hoping for. Saturday morning, McConnell’s home was also vandalized with the words “Where’s My Money?” spray-painted on his door.
