The lawmaker vowed to continue speaking out. People close to her said the substance smelled “terrible” and urged people to “get tested”.
Man sprays unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar
A man sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar with an unknown substance during an event at City Hall in Minneapolis.
Somali-born Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has been the target of President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, was sprayed with an unknown substance by a man at a Minneapolis City Hall event late on January 27th.
A man stormed and sprayed members of the U.S. House of Representatives who were calling for the abolition of ICE and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The man spoke to Omar while pouring the material over his torso. It’s unclear what he said or what he sprayed.
Omar briefly suspended the event, but a bystander quickly tackled the man and he was arrested by police. She later issued a statement saying she would not be intimidated by “this little agitator.”
“It’s okay. I’m a survivor and this little agitator won’t threaten my job. I won’t let the bullies win,” said the representative from Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. “Thank you to my amazing voters who supported me. Minnesota is strong.”
A Minneapolis police spokesperson said the man used a syringe to “spray” Omar with an unknown liquid.
The U.S. representative was not injured, police department spokesman Trevor Falk said.
Police took the man to the Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of assault, Folke said, adding that the man’s name was not immediately available.
Police said city forensic scientists responded to the incident and processed the scene.
What happened at the event?
A man ran up to Omar and sprayed her with an unknown substance as she spoke at Minneapolis City Hall about aggressive federal immigration enforcement in the area. He splashed water on her torso and said something before being tackled.
As people implored people to stop and seek help, Omar vowed to continue the meetings.
“Please don’t let them put on a show,” Omar said, asking for napkins. “We’re going to keep going… They’re not going to get away with this.”
People close to the congresswoman called on her to end the session.
One woman said: “Whatever it is, it smells so bad I need to get it checked.” “It’s for your safety, so please get tested. It smells awful.”
As security escorted the man from the room, Omar continued to call for Nomu to be held accountable.
What did Omar say?
The attack on the prominent Democrat comes amid escalating political violence across the country and heightened tensions in the Twin Cities. In January, federal agents killed two Americans in the Twin Cities: Alex Preti, 37, on January 24th and Renee Nicole Good, 37, on January 7th.
At the time, Omar spoke about how Democrats needed to take action in the face of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics against the state.
President Trump and White House officials say they are targeting Minnesota over irregularities in its welfare programs that they say are connected to Somali immigrants.
The president’s focus on the Democratic-led state has sparked intense backlash at the White House, particularly over Mr. Preti’s murder and the administration’s labeling of intensive care unit nurses as “domestic terrorists.”
According to witness video and witness statements, Preeti was not brandishing a weapon. He was apparently shot and killed after intervening to help a woman who had been shoved by a Border Patrol agent.
“It’s important to me that I continue to lead my Democratic colleagues in calling for Noem’s resignation,” Omar said of Noem. “If she doesn’t resign, we’re going to introduce articles of impeachment.”
“What does service and patriotism look like?”
State officials quickly issued a statement supporting the Minnesota lawmaker.
Governor Tim Walz said in a statement, “I’m glad Congressman Omar is safe.” Our state was shattered by political violence last year. The cruel, inflammatory and dehumanizing statements made by our nation’s leaders must immediately end.”
Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) cited Omar’s decision to continue the town hall in the face of the incident as “what service and patriotism looks like.”
“I’m relieved that Ilhan is safe and that the man who did this is in police custody,” Smith said in a statement to USA TODAY. “But what I think is really important for people to focus on is how Ilhan stood up and basically said, ‘No, I’m not done yet. I’m not going to scare this guy away from his City Hall job.'” A man who lives with threats to himself and his family every day shows us what courage looks like. That is service and patriotism. ”
