During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, Texas Democratic Representative Al Green briefly interrupted, and was swiftly removed from the House chamber. Interestingly, as he was being escorted out, a Republican member took a sign from him.
Green displayed a banner stating “Black people are not monkeys,” which seemed to be a response to a video shared on the president’s Truth social account. That video featured former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama depicted as monkeys.
In a later statement, the president mentioned that he hadn’t seen the video until it was shared. He characterized the actions of certain individuals as “crazy,” being particularly pointed towards the Democratic Party.
Green’s interruption paralleled an earlier incident last year when another member, Marjorie Taylor Greene, had also been removed after disrupting the president’s address. At that time, Greene had shouted, “You have no authority!” at the president while waving her cane.
Following that event, many Democrats and Republicans voted to censure Greene, with the resolution passing 224-198. Notably, both parties, including Republican Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, criticized the anti-Obama video. The president later attributed the oversight to his staff, asserting he didn’t view the video prior to its posting.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Green argued that racism played a role in his removal after the previous suspension. He described persistent discrimination within the House of Representatives, recalling his childhood in the segregated South and noting the constitutional rights that were denied to him. He commented, “When the Speaker decided to remove me… it became evident that I was not treated like everyone else.” In his view, this situation exemplified deep-rooted discrimination.
