MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man sprayed an unknown substance on U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar before being pushed to the ground during a Minneapolis town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar on Tuesday. Tensions over federal immigration enforcement came to a head this month when agents shot and killed a critical care nurse and a mother of three.
Spectators cheered as the man, wearing a black jacket, was pushed to the ground with his arms tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my God, he sprayed something on her.” After the man was removed from the room, Omar continued to City Hall.
Earlier, Omar called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “ICE cannot be reformed,” she said.
Minneapolis police did not immediately respond to calls and emails seeking information about the incident and whether anyone had been arrested.
The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday night.
President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congresswoman, stepping up his verbal attacks on her in recent months as he turns his attention to Minneapolis.
At a cabinet meeting in December, he called her “rubbish” and added that “her friends are rubbish”.
Earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar while addressing a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only allow immigrants “who can show they love our country.”
“They have to be proud and not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.
He added: “She comes from a country that’s been riddled with disasters. So, I guess, that might be considered – it’s not even a country.”
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., condemned the attack on Omar.
Mace said via social platform
The attack came days after a man was arrested in Utah for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump would deport him.
