"No buttons, no facial expressions, no gestures, no signs. Not one sound. Standing up. There are only two things you can do at the State of the Union, and they are sit down and stand up. All kinds of people were standing up all night. Me too - I stood up - at the moment that I heard this man say some of the most racist things I have heard come out of any leader's mouth about the people of my city."
"The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy."
"Capitol Police confronted her to remove her from the chamber, specifically pulling on her shoulders after she told them she has injuries in both of her shoulders. Officers only let up on their violence after one of their sergeants intervened in the back stairwell, she said."
Aliya Rahman, a guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar, was arrested by Capitol Police during President Trump's State of the Union address after standing silently in protest when Trump made remarks about Somalis. Rahman stated she engaged in no disruptive behavior—no sounds, gestures, or signs—only standing, which is a permitted action at the event. Officers forcibly removed her by pulling on her shoulders despite her informing them of existing shoulder injuries. The violent arrest caused Rahman, who has a disability, to require hospital care. She was subsequently booked at Capitol Police headquarters. Rep. Omar condemned the response as heavy-handed and called for a full explanation of the arrest.
#capitol-police-violence #state-of-the-union-protest #first-amendment-rights #police-brutality #democratic-accountability
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