Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi have distanced themselves from Rep. Maxine Waters’ comments. | Alex Wong/Getty Images Black female leaders criticize Pelosi, Schumer for 'failure to protect' Waters

Black female leaders and allies expressed their “deep disappointment“ with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for their “recent failure to protect“ Rep. Maxine Waters “from unwarranted attacks from the Trump administration and others in the GOP.“

“We write to share our profound indignation and deep disappointment over your recent failure to protect Congresswoman Waters from unwarranted attacks from the Trump Administration and others in the GOP,” the women wrote in a letter sent Tuesday. “That failure was further compounded by your decision to unfairly deride her as being ‘uncivil‘ and ‘un-American.‘“


“In doing so, we believe this mischaracterizes her call to action for peaceful democratic assembly and the exercise of her constitutional rights to free speech in support of defenseless immigrant children and their families,” the letter continued.

Waters (D-Calif.) last month urged opponents of President Donald Trump to protest members of his Cabinet wherever they encounter them. Pelosi and Schumer have distanced themselves from the comments, with the House Minority Leader asking to conduct elections in a way that "achieves unity."

In a statement released Wednesday, Pelosi said: "Congresswoman Maxine Waters is a valued leader whose passionate call for family reunification should be heard without any threats to her safety.

“Donald Trump has sullied the bully pulpit with reckless disregard for the safety of others ... He should stop his attacks on Congresswoman Waters and all Members of Congress, the free press, and all Americans who have the right and the responsibility to speak their minds."

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Trump has since attacked Waters on Twitter and during rallies and called her the new “face of the Democrats.“

The California lawmaker has said she did not encourage anyone to "harm" Trump administration officials.

