Rep. Ilhan Omar Says Guest "Forcibly Removed" and Arrested for Standing at State of the Union in Washington, D.C.
Representative Ilhan Omar stated that one of her guests was escorted from the gallery by Capitol Police and arrested during the State of the Union address on the evening of February 24. The incident occurred after the guest stood up while President Trump was speaking.
According to a statement from Omar on February 26, Aliya Rahman – a software engineer from Minnesota – stood up "silently" in the gallery for a brief period. Omar alleged that Rahman was forcibly removed and subsequently charged with "Unlawful Conduct."
Capitol Police later confirmed that Rahman was arrested on charges of unlawful conduct, according to reports from NBC News. This misdemeanor could carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a fine of up to $500 if convicted.
Rahman told Democracy Now that she only stood up and did not carry any provocative symbols or slogans. She stated that law enforcement handled her roughly, despite her informing them of a shoulder injury; a commanding officer later requested she be taken for medical care and used a wheelchair.
Representative Omar criticized the security forces' response, calling it a heavy-handed action against a peaceful guest. During the speech, President Trump engaged in back-and-forth exchanges with Democratic lawmakers as several chose not to stand for sections related to security and immigration.
Previously, Rahman had been accused of interfering with an immigration enforcement campaign in Minnesota during "Operation Metro Surge." This campaign deployed thousands of federal agents, and border official Tom Homan stated that about 700 of the 3,000 agents had been withdrawn from Minnesota.
The incident at the Capitol continues to fuel debates over security conduct during highly political congressional events. This is of particular concern regarding the right to peaceful expression at public events.
