McCarthy leads GOP backlash on Democratic Rep. Waters' call for protesters to 'stay on the streets'

House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy is vowing to officially censure California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters for telling protesters in Minnesota over the weekend to "get more confrontational" if the officer in the George Floyd murder trial doesn't receive a guilty verdict.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is facing murder and manslaughter charges in the May 2020 death of George Floyd. A verdict is expected as early as this week.

"I hope we're going to get a verdict that will say guilty, guilty, guilty," Waters said Saturday, while talking to protesters in suburban Minneapolis where Daunte Wright was fatally shot last week by police in a traffic stop. "We've got to stay on the street, and we've got to get more active. We’ve got to get more confrontational. We've got to make sure that they know that we mean business."

McCarthy on Sunday demanded House Speaker Nancy Pelosi take action against Waters for her comment and said he would if she did not.

"Maxine Waters is inciting violence in Minneapolis, just as she has incited it in the past," said the California Republican, according to The Daily Wire. "If Speaker Pelosi doesn't act against this dangerous rhetoric, I will bring action this week."

McCarthy's response came amid widespread congressional Republican backlash this weekend against the 82-year-old Waters' comments.

"@SpeakerPelosi you impeached President Trump after you said he incited violence by saying “march peacefully” to the Capitol. So I can expect a yes vote from you on my resolution to expel@RepMaxineWaters  for inciting violence, riots, and abusing power threatening a jury, right?," tweeted Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green.

Other GOP members also condemning Waters' comments include Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Reps. Lauren Boebert, of Colorado, and Andy Biggs, of Arizona.