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.
On January 27, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance while giving a speech at City Hall.
Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, was calling for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment when she was rushed to the stage by a man who poured liquid on her torso.
The man appeared to say something to Omar seconds before the substance made contact, but it is unclear what he said or what he sprayed. Minneapolis Police Department spokesman Trevor Folke told USA TODAY that Omar was not injured.
Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was arrested after the incident. Minneapolis police alleged that Kazmierczak used a “syringe to spray an unknown liquid” on Omar. Kazmierczak was taken to Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of assault.
What happened next?
Omar appeared unfazed by the violation and continued the meeting despite calls from attendees to stop and seek help. Especially since the substance “smelled awful.”
“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.”
Omar called for Noem to be held accountable as security escorted the man from the room. Omar later issued a statement saying she did not intend for “this little agitator” to threaten her job.
State officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), sent messages of support to the congressman.
Contributed by Michael Loria and James Powell, USA TODAY
