Republican Rep. Derrick Van Alden said Tuesday he was assaulted by an anti-war protester at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, but the protester claimed he was shoved by a lawmaker.
Van Orden, a Republican congressman from Minnesota, said in a statement that he was assaulted by protesters he believed to be members of the anti-war group Code Pink as he was entering the Republican National Convention.
“Today while waiting in line to enter an event at the Republican National Convention I was assaulted by what appeared to be members of the pro-Hamas group Code Pink. A nearby police officer witnessed the assault and I understand an arrest has been made,” he said.
Scalise focuses on Trump’s compassion in RNC speech, says assassination attempt brought back ’emotions’ from 2017
He said the incident appeared to be an act of political violence and added: “I will never condone this.”
“Political violence is political violence, regardless of the intensity of the violence,” he said.
Van Alden was referring to the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Secret Service director: Trump rally shooter identified as ‘potential suspect’
Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Alden leaves a House Republican Conference meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at the Capitol Hill Club. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“The Republican Party has been threatened and targeted for years, including through an assassination attempt on President Trump, and we will no longer stand by and tolerate lawlessness,” he said. “There is no place for political violence in this country, and I have repeatedly called for those who choose this path to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Unless these people are held accountable, nothing is going to change.”
Live Updates: Republican National Convention
But CODEPINK rejected Van Alden’s version of events, claiming he was “wrongfully arrested” after trying to cut in line by pushing the organizer of the group’s Palestinian outreach.
“Noor, who is visibly Palestinian, was waiting quietly in line to get into the event when she was intentionally bumped into and nearly pushed past by the bald, white congressman,” co-founder Medea Benjamin said. “Despite not responding, Noor was reportedly falsely accused of ‘assault’ by Texas State Troopers at the scene and was taken to Milwaukee Police. No charges have been filed at this time. Notably, two other Code Pink staff members ahead of her in line were allowed through without incident, raising concerns of racial profiling.”
Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has sent more than 100 law enforcement officers to Milwaukee to help with security for the Republican National Convention there.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Benjamin said the incident was the “epitome of misogyny” at the Republican National Convention, with the only Palestinian person in line allegedly assaulted and later arrested.
“CODE PINK clarifies that no member of our organization assaulted anyone. We strictly adhered to non-violent protest methods and attended the Republican National Convention to convey a message of peace and disarmament,” the statement said.
