Representative Ilhan Omar expressed her outrage after one of her guests at the State of the Union address was arrested and “forcibly removed” from the House gallery, criticizing what she described as an overly aggressive response by Capitol police.
According to Omar, software engineer Aliya Rahman was escorted out of the gallery during President Trump’s speech after standing silently. Rahman had previously been involved in a Minnesota protest against immigration policies, during which she was reportedly pulled from her car while on her way to a medical appointment.
“Aliya Rahman, my guest, stood quietly in the gallery during the President’s address, at a time when others were also standing,” Omar stated on Wednesday. “For this, she was forcefully removed, despite informing officers of her shoulder injuries, and subsequently charged with ‘Unlawful Conduct.’
Omar, a prominent member of the progressive “Squad,” claimed that Rahman was handled roughly until someone intervened to ensure she received medical care.
Capitol Police confirmed Rahman’s arrest on charges of unlawful conduct, as reported by NBC News. Omar condemned the police’s actions, calling them “heavy-handed.”
“Such an aggressive response to a peaceful guest sends a troubling message about the current state of our democracy,” Omar remarked.
Rahman, who could face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $500 for the misdemeanor, claimed the sergeant-at-arms told her the reason she was being hauled out of the State of the Union was that she was standing up.
“There are only two things you can do at the State of the Union, and they are sit down and stand up,” she told Democracy Now. I was arrested for standing up.”
Rahman said she was arrested despite the fact that she was quiet and not sporting any pins or buttons that could be seen as inflammatory. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Omar’s Squaddie, wore “F–k ICE” pin during the event.
She also claimed she was arrested despite being “much quieter” than Republicans nearby.
Rahman, who has a torn rotator cuff, claimed she was arrested “so physically” that two other guests tried to intervene when she told cops about her injuries.
“And only when their own sergeant intervened in a back stairwell of that building to say, “Stop! We need to get her medical care and a wheelchair,” did they stop tugging on me while again I was saying ‘disabled,’” she said.
Omar, who was heard heckling Trump during the State of the Union, also invited Chair of the Columbia Heights School Board Mary Granlund, 20-year-old Mubashir Hussen and the son of workers’ rights organizer Eustaquio Orozco Verdusco.
Rahman’s removal from the State of the Union came just over a month after she allegedly interrupted an immigration enforcement operation that was taking place less than a week after Renee Good was shot.
Thousands of officers were sent to Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge – which Homeland Security officials claimed was the largest immigration enforcement operation ever.
But, the deaths of Renee Good and intensive care nurse Alex Pretti sparked condemnation by the government’s critics.
Earlier this month, border czar Tom Homan said 700 of the approximately 3,000 federal agents sent to Minnesota would be withdrawn.
With Post wires
