‘Dark day in America’: Ilhan Omar backs Al Green after SOTU protest

WASHINGTON, DC: Representative Ilhan Omar on Wednesday, February 25, condemned the removal of Congressman Al Green from the State of the Union address over his protest, calling it a “dark day in America.”

Omar stood by his decision to protest and said it was a “sad moment” for the country, as a member of Congress had to remind the president that “black people aren't apes.”

Ilhan Omar backs Al Green after removal

During an interview on CNN, anchor Wolf Blitzer asked Representative Ilhan Omar for her reaction to the incident, noting that Congressman Al Green was escorted out just minutes into the speech.

Omar replied, "I mean, isn't it just a sad moment for our country when a member of Congress has to remind the President of the United States that black people aren't Apes.”

She continued, “I mean, just for a moment, think about that, Al was escorted because he refused to sit down, and I stand with Al. I think it is an important moment in our nation's history, that we have to take stands like that. We have to remind a sitting president that we, black people, are not apes."

Al Green holds sign, removed from State of the Union

The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 24, shortly after President Donald Trump began his State of the Union address. Texas lawmaker Al Green stood in the House chamber holding a handwritten sign that read, "Black people aren't apes!"

As he continued to display the placard, Capitol security quickly moved in to escort him out of the room.

This marks the second year in a row that Green has been removed from a presidential address. Last year, he was also removed after shouting during the president’s speech.

After the forced removal, Green said in an interview with Reuters at the Capitol, "I wanted him to know that portraying President Obama and first lady Obama as members of the primate family is not only unacceptable, it is something that is deplorable and something we will not tolerate."

Al Green protests over Obama AI ape video

The protest was a reaction to an ape video recently shared on President Donald Trump’s social media account. The video used AI-generated images to place the faces of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama onto the bodies of apes.

Although the video was eventually taken down, it sparked widespread anger across the country. The White House said a staffer had posted it by mistake, and Trump said he had not watched the entire video and was unaware that segment was included.