Al Green ejected from State of the Union as Democrats refuse to stand; al green held ‘Black people aren’t apes’ sign
Texas Democrat al green was escorted from the House chamber on Tuesday night during the State of the Union after he lingered in the center aisle holding a sign that read "Black people aren't apes!" The removal unfolded as dozens of Democrats stayed seated in protest and several walked out while Republicans repeatedly rose and applauded the president's remarks.
Al Green held a protest sign and was removed almost immediately
As the president began his address, Al Green remained in the center aisle brandishing the cardboard sign reading "Black people aren't apes!" — a reference to the US president sharing a racist video depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama. He continued to hold the sign as he was escorted from the chamber, marking the second year in a row he has been removed from the annual event.
Physical confrontations as Republicans tried to block the sign
Multiple Republican representatives tried to grab at the sign or block it from being viewed by cameras. Representative Troy Nehls of Texas could be seen aggressively engaging with Green as he passed by, just before a staffer led the Democratic lawmaker to the door. Senator Markwayne Mullin also approached Green menacingly, and as Green walked out clutching his walking stick and protest sign there were acrimonious exchanges with Republicans, a few of whom began chanting "USA! USA!"
Empty seat and a handwritten cardboard placeholder
After Green was escorted from the chamber, his seat was left empty except for a handwritten cardboard sign that said "Al Green. " The removal was widely visible and Green still held his sign for cameras to see when he spoke to reporters outside the chamber.
Green’s civil rights record and past removal from the event
Green has been among the president's top critics and was the first member of Congress to call for his impeachment as early as 2017. He represents a predominantly African American district and has long fought for civil rights. Last year he was ordered out by the House speaker, Mike Johnson, for yelling responses as the president spoke; this year’s protest was silent but pointed.
Broader Democratic protest: sitting, walking out and sharp rebukes
Dozens of Democrats boycotted the address and several Democrats walked out early. Many Democrats spent much of the speech solemnly sitting while Republican colleagues leapt to their feet to clap at the end of just about every sentence uttered by the president. Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, said he "couldn't sit through an hour of Trump's lies" and left while the president inflated his economic achievements. Representative Bill Foster of Illinois said he gave himself "5 bald-faced lies" — the same as last year — before he left, writing "Less than one hour into his speech, I'm out. "
Heated exchanges over immigration enforcement and other accusations
As the president spoke about his immigration enforcement agenda to a standing ovation from Republicans and called for Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security, Representative Rashida Tlaib, who was wearing a pin that read "release the files", yelled back about the killing of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse shot to death by federal agents: "They saw the videos, Mr President, they saw the videos. " Representative Ilhan Omar shouted, "You should be ashamed, " and repeatedly yelled, "you have killed Americans. "
Green’s response outside the chamber
Outside the chamber, Green called his removal for the second time "of no consequence. " He said nothing would prevent him from doing what he believed was a righteous thing to do. "You have to take a stand, " he added. "I am just a person who has done it – but there are many others, I believe, who would. "
