Dem Rep. Rush Kicked Off House Floor for ‘Hoodie’ in Trayvon Martin Protest
Peter Kasperowicz, The Hill, March 28, 2012
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) on Wednesday morning was asked to leave the House floor after removing his suit jacket to reveal a “hoodie,” then putting the hood on his head to protest the Trayvon Martin killing in Florida.
“Racial profiling has to stop,” Rush said. ”Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum.” Rush also put on sunglasses.
The Illinois Democrat quoted the Bible while presiding officer Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) repeatedly interrupted him, then asked the sergeant at arms to enforce the House prohibition on hats in the chamber.
“The chair must remind members that clause 5 of rule 17 prohibits the wearing of hats in the chamber when the House is in session,” Harper said after Rush left. “The chair finds that the donning of a hood is not consistent with this rule. Members need to remove their hoods or leave the floor.”
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[Editor’s Note: A video of this incident is available here.]
