What began as a low-key town hall turned frightening Tuesday night when an unidentified man approached U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and sprayed her with an unknown substance before a security officer subdued him.
I was at the event and can report that the attack elicited numerous gasps. I also felt a wave of fear that Minnesotans were set to witness more political violence.
Omar, a DFLer from Minneapolis and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, for years has been the target of verbal attacks by President Trump. But last month that escalated when the president not only called Somali Americans trash but specifically referred to Omar as “garbage.”
Related: Trump’s attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota Somalis represent a dark escalation
The town hall was in an overheated basement in north Minneapolis that is home of the Urban League Twin Cities.
Omar was less than four minutes into remarks when a man lunged at her. She had just asked for a moment of silence for Alexi Pretti and Renee Good, who federal immigration agents each killed this month on Minneapolis streets.
In the seconds following the incident, Omar felt like the least phased member in the room of several dozen people.
“We will continue — these fucking assholes are not going to get away with this shit,” she blurted out, which drew loud applause but did not remove the feeling of unease.
“Here is the reality that people like this ugly man don’t understand,” she said, stepping back to the podium. “We are Minnesota strong.”
As Omar then returned to her prepared speech, security dragged the assailant out of the room. A handful of onlookers chanted “Nazis go! Nazis go!” which they later said was directed at the attacker.
Remarkably, Omar not only finished her speech but answered constituent questions.
There was an edge to her answers, or at least a sharp wit. When someone asked how residents could better support Minneapolis police, Omar replied, “The only thing ICE succeeded in doing is making Minneapolis love their police.”
When the interrogator suggested bringing the police snacks, Omar added, “Make sure they’re not scared that you’re just trying to poison them.”
By the end, not just Omar but the crowd appeared back into the groove of a typical political event. But that sense of normalcy evaporated when the event did, as security formed a perimeter around Omar and whisked her out.
Audience members called the attack “triggering” and “alarming.”
Omar’s office issued a statement after the event, stating, “During her town hall, an agitator tried to attack the Congresswoman by spraying an unknown substance with a syringe. Security and the Minneapolis Police Department quickly apprehended the individual. He is now in custody.”
The statement also gave a PG-rated version of Omar’s in-the-moment remarks.
“The Congresswoman is okay. She continued with her town hall because she doesn’t let bullies win.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey put out a statement Tuesday night that “violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis.”
Related: D.C. Memo: Trump, at the Davos forum, takes more shots at Minnesota, Somalis
Earlier in the day Frey met with President Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan, reiterating the city’s demand that the administration wind down its Operation Metro Surge.
Omar is a public face of opposition to Trump’s immigration policies. She reiterated Tuesday that ICE should be abolished and that Congress must impeach Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem.
The Congress member has faced frequent death threats. While all Congress members get $10,000-a-month toward security, Omar pays for added security from her campaign account.
MinnPost reporter Ana Radelat contributed to this report.
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