Tell Capitol Police: Apologize to Protester Injured at SOTU

She arrived at the State of the Union as a guest of Congress. She left bruised and in handcuffs, and she was later taken to the hospital for medical treatment following the incident.

Aliya Rahman, a Minnesota activist invited by Rep. Ilhan Omar, was forcibly arrested and reportedly injured by U.S. Capitol Police during President Trump’s State of the Union address. Rahman had previously accused a DHS agent of assault. Instead of ensuring her safety, officers tackled and detained her inside the Capitol for simply standing in protest.

This is bigger than one arrest. If peaceful guests can be thrown to the ground at one of the most public events in our democracy, what message does that send about our right to dissent? No one attending a joint session of Congress should leave in handcuffs and require hospital care for exercising their right to peaceful protest.

Tell U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael G. Sullivan: “Apologize to Aliya Rahman, release all footage of her arrest, and guarantee that peaceful guests can attend public proceedings without fear of excessive force.”

Chief Sullivan has the power to investigate, release all footage, and issue a formal apology. But that kind of accountability only happens when the public demands it.

We can’t allow excessive force against nonviolent attendees to become normal — especially at the State of the Union, when the nation is watching.

Add your name now to demand that peaceful attendees of public capitol proceedings are treated with dignity and respect.

The petition to Capitol Police Chief Michael G. Sullivan reads: "Apologize to Aliya Rahman, release all footage of her arrest, and guarantee that peaceful guests can attend public proceedings without fear of excessive force."