Democratic Congressman Removed From House Chamber After Holding Sign That Read ‘Black People Aren’t Apes’

A Democratic lawmaker from Texas, Congressman Al Green, was swiftly removed from the House chamber during President Trump’s State of the Union address after holding up a sign that read, “Black People Aren’t Apes.” The sign is an apparent reference to Mr. Trump’s recent Truth Social post, which included a brief AI-generated image of President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama with their heads on the bodies of primates. Mr. Green famously interrupted Mr. Trump’s speech last year, standing near the center aisle of the House floor, yelling that the president had no “mandate.” He was later censured for that protest on the floor, which included him waving his cane in the air. Mr. Trump did not acknowledge Mr. Green while he was holding the sign. Speaker Mike Johnson did not direct that Sergeant at Arms to remove Mr. Green, as he did last year while the Democrat was yelling at Mr. Trump. Instead, it appeared that an individual with the Sergeant at Arms’ office quietly went over to Mr. Green, stood beside him, and asked him to leave the room. The sign was first unfolded as Mr. Trump made his way to the podium. After the president passed by Mr. Green, another Texan, Congressman Troy Nehls — a Republican who is wearing a tie with Mr. Trump’s face on it at the speech — went over to berate Mr. Green for the sign. Another Republican, Congressman Pat Fallon — also from Texas — tried to stand in front of Mr. Green so the president would not be able to see the sign. Mr. Fallon quickly returned to his seat after it became clear that Mr. Green would not relent in his protest. Last year, after Mr. Green was thrown from the chamber by Mr. Johnson, his colleagues moved to censure him for his actions. After the censure resolution was introduced, Mr. Greene said he had no regrets about yelling at the president. “It was not done out of a burst of emotion … I did it with intentionality,” Mr. Green said on the House floor last year. “I would do it again.” “This is a matter of principle,” he added. “On some questions, questions of conscience, you must be willing to suffer the consequences.”

Democratic Congressman Removed From House Chamber After Holding Sign That Read ‘Black People Aren’t Apes’

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