Protesters interrupt Kristi Noem during Homeland Security Committee session: 'Shame on you'

WASHINGTON, DC: Anti-ICE hecklers disrupted Kristi Noem at the House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Thursday, December 11. 

During the committee hearing, several individuals disrupted Noem’s opening statement while Representative Bennie Thompson called on her to resign.  

Protestors cause chaos during Homeland Security hearing 

As Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took the stage during the House Homeland Security Committee hearing, her opening remarks were interrupted by several protestors singing ‘The Imperial March’ from ‘Star Wars’ before protesting against the presence of ICE in several cities.  

“Stop ICE raids,” a sign read.

Another man dressed as a Catholic Cardinal screamed, “The power of Christ compels you, and urged Noem to end deportations.”

Another aggressively asked the Homeland Security secretary to “stop terrorizing” communities and to get ICE “off of our streets.”

As these two individuals were escorted out, screams could be heard outside the congressional hearing, causing the process to be paused to settle the protesters down.

From outside the room, protestors were heard yelling “Shame on you” and “How dare you!”

Andrew Garbarino asked the Capitol Police to remove and arrest the protestors, noting that disruptions of congressional business were a “violation of law as a criminal offense under federal law.”

Bennie Thompson asks Kristi Noem to resign

During the House Homeland Security Committee hearing, several Democratic leaders questioned Noem, including Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.

He told her that she had “systematically dismantled” the DHS, and accused her of putting her interests above the department's, and of violating the law.

“You are making America less safe,” he said.

Thompson told Noem that instead of “wasting your time and ours” with more corruption, lies, and lawlessness, “I call on you to resign.” He added that it would be a “real service” to America if she resigned. 

“That is, if President Trump doesn’t fire you first,” he added. 

Later, Thompson addressed the recent DC shooting and termed it an “unfortunate accident.” Noem fired back and told him that it was not an “unfortunate accident” but a “terrorist attack.”

Thompson corrected himself and said it was an “unfortunate situation,” but received pushback from several representatives, who were unhappy with his statement.

"That was a murder that took place in DC,” it was not an unfortunate incident, “and those comments are f****** disrespectful,” Andy Ogles said.