WASHINGTON, D.C. (TRP) – A congressman was removed from the House floor Wednesday after he sported a hoodie and sunglasses in honor of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin.
Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill initially walked onto the House floor wearing a suit jacket but when he began to address the House, he removed his jacket, revealing a hooded sweatshirt and proceeded to pull the hood over his head and put on sunglasses.
“May God bless Trayvon Martin’s soul, his family,” he said. “Racial profiling has to stop, Mr. Speaker. Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum.”
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The stunt prompted speaker pro-tempore Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss to interject, ordering Rush to suspend.
“The member is no longer recognized. The chair will ask the sergeant-at-arms to enforce the rules on decorum,” he said.
Rush, who was in violation of clause 5 of House Rule 17 against wearing hats on the House floor, shouted Bible passages before being pulled from the podium.
Minority House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was one of many who came out in support of Rush, saying she was more concerned with the decisions made on the House floor rather than a legislator’s wardrobe.
“When I first came here 25 years ago, women couldn’t wear pant suits on the floor,” Pelosi told reporters Wednesday. “It was a violation of decorum.”
“I am more concerned with actions taken and words spoken and the impact on the American people than whether somebody has a hoodie or not.”
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