WASHINGTON — Aliyah Rahman, a Minnesota woman invited to the State of the Union address by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., required hospital treatment after being arrested during President Donald Trump’s speech on Tuesday, according to both Rahman and Omar.
Rahman silently stood up during the portion of the President’s speech focused on restoring funding for the Department of Homeland Security, while others remained seated. When U.S. Capitol Police asked her to sit down, she refused.
During the encounter with Capitol Police, a standing ovation erupted from the crowd, which Rahman attempted to explain to officers as a reason not to be removed. Capitol Police then began to pull Rahman, who was using a crutch, toward the exit, prompting protest from another guest who urged them to be less aggressive.
Rahman stated in an interview with Democracy Now! that she was in police custody and then at the hospital until just before 4 a.m. She described being arrested “so physically that two other attendees upstairs attempted to intervene in officers pulling on my shoulders” after informing them of existing injuries.
According to Rahman, the House sergeant-at-arms informed her she was arrested simply for “standing up. Silently. No buttons, no facial expressions, no gestures, no signs. Not one sound. Standing up.” She noted that others were standing throughout the speech.
Capitol Police stated Rahman was arrested on charges of unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress, noting that demonstrating is prohibited within the Congressional Buildings and that she refused lawful orders to sit down.
Rep. Omar released a statement Wednesday condemning Rahman’s arrest and calling for a “full explanation of why this arrest occurred,” stating that the response “sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy.”
Omar’s office described Rahman as a disabled person with autism and a traumatic brain injury from Minneapolis, who was taken to George Washington University Hospital and later booked at Capitol Police headquarters.
Minneapolis has recently been a focal point of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, known as Operation Metro Surge, during which federal agents shot and killed Americans Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Democrats in Congress have demanded changes to Department of Homeland Security enforcement tactics, leading to a partial government shutdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Aliyah Rahman arrested?
Aliyah Rahman was arrested for refusing to obey lawful orders to sit down and for disrupting Congress, according to Capitol Police. She stated she was arrested for silently standing during President Trump’s speech.
Who invited Aliyah Rahman to the State of the Union address?
Representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., invited Aliyah Rahman as her guest to the State of the Union address.
What injuries does Aliyah Rahman have?
Aliyah Rahman has a torn rotator cuff and cartilage tears in both shoulders, and also has a traumatic brain injury and autism, according to a description provided by Rep. Omar’s office.
As debates over immigration policy and congressional decorum continue, what does this incident suggest about the boundaries of protest and the rights of individuals within the halls of government?
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