Texas Democrat removed for holding ‘Black people aren’t apes’ sign as colleagues stay seated while Republicans cheer
As dozens of their colleagues boycotted Trump’s State of the Union address, several of the Democrats in the House chamber on Tuesday night made their opposition to the president’s remarks clear.
Congressman Al Green was ejected from the speech almost immediately, marking the second year in a row he has been removed from the annual event. After being ordered out by House speaker Mike Johnson during last year’s speech for yelling responses as the president spoke, this year’s protest from the Texas representative was silent but pointed.
As Trump began his address and other attendees sat down, Green lingered in the center aisle brandishing a sign that read “Black people aren’t apes!” He continued to hold the sign – a reference to the US president sharing a racist video depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama – as he was escorted from the room, even as multiple Republican representatives tried to grab at it or block it from being viewed by cameras.
Representative Troy Nehls, also from Texas, could be seen aggressively engaging with Green as he passed by, just before a staffer escorted the Democratic lawmaker to the door. Senator Markwayne Mullin also approached Green menacingly.
