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Former President Barack Obama was buried under a tsunami of backlash Wednesday for passing over the Uvalde school massacre to honor George Floyd.
The second anniversary of Floyd's death came one day after a teenage gunman opened fire inside an elementary school in south Texas, killing 19 schoolchildren and two teachers.
Obama, therefore, suggested Americans briefly cease grieving the horrific loss of life to "recognize" the anniversary of Floyd's death.
"As we grieve the children of Uvalde today, we should take time to recognize that two years have passed since the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer. His killing stays with us all to this day, especially those who loved him," Obama said.
\u201cAs we grieve the children of Uvalde today, we should take time to recognize that two years have passed since the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer. His killing stays with us all to this day, especially those who loved him.\u201d— Barack Obama (@Barack Obama) 1653509313
Obama also honored the "new generation of activists" that rose up after Floyd's death, who "raise awareness of systemic racism and the need for criminal justice and police reform."
Obama's tweet generated tens of thousands of responses, most of them negative. After all, details of the Uvalde tragedy are still being worked out, while families of the victims are just beginning the journey of grief.
In the wake of the Uvalde bloodshed, Obama called for "any kind of action," though he did not provide any concrete ideas that could prevent the next mass killing.