Man sprays unknown chemical on U.S. Rep Omar at Northside town hall
The clip above is from a Facebook Live recording by King Demetrius Pendelton
By David Pierini and Azhae’la Hanson, North News
A man charged U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and sprayed an unknown substance on her from a syringe during town hall in North Minneapolis Tuesday night, witnesses said.
The man was tackled to the ground by two men, one of whom was Omar’s husband, and was held until Minneapolis Police arrived to arrest the man, said Ward 5 Councilwoman Pearll Warren, who was at the forum held at Urban League Twin Cities.
“Those folks tackled him, and Bobby Joe (state Sen. Bobby Joe Champion) kicked the syringe over into the corner and was standing on,” Warren told North News. “Ilhan got sprayed with that stuff and she just kept on talking.”
Omar could be heard saying, “I need a napkin to continue my speech.” When someone tried to move her to safety, she said, “We will continue. This f— asshole is not going to get away with this.”
The forum, which included several elected officials, was held to discuss the federal government’s aggressive immigration enforcement operations in the city. Omar had just finished calling for ICE to be abolished and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign when the man stood from the front row and started shouting, moving toward her with the syringe, Warren said.
Warren was coughing during a brief interview, and she said the smell of the substance was so bad that one official vomited.
“While we do not yet know what the substance was, it appeared to be a pink-colored liquid in a syringe with a strong, unpleasant odor,” Champion said in an email to North News. “I am deeply disappointed that this occurred in our district.”
Omar wrote a brief post on her Facebook page to thank constituents for their support.
“I’m OK,” she said. “I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win.,”
According to the Associated Press, President Trump had criticized Omar earlier in the day as he spoke to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only let in immigrants who ''can show that they love our country.''
Ward 4 Councilwoman LaTrisha Vetaw, who also spoke at the town hall, said police forensic technicians arrived to test the chemical. Vetaw said she was sprayed with it as well.
“This was an act of violence,” Vetaw said in a statement. “It was frightening, intentional, and completely unacceptable. I was able to return home safely and wash all residue from my skin.
“While I am physically okay, I want to be clear: this was a deeply unsettling experience, and I am shaken by what occurred.”
This is a developing story.