Democratic Illinois Bobby Rush congressman was removed from the House floor Wednesday after donning a hoodie and sunglasses to protest the apparent “racial profiling” of murdered Florida teen Trayvon Martin. Rush hid the hoodie under his suit until the morning session when he took to a podium to make his speech.
“I applaud the young people all across the land who are making a statement about hoodies, about the hoodlums in this nation, particularly those who tread on our laws wearing official or quasi-official clothes,” Rush began.
“Racial profiling has to stop, Mr. Speaker,” he said as he pulled the hood over his head. “Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum.”
Rep. Greg Harper, who was the presiding speaker, immediately reprimanded Rush. Rush ignored him and continued to read Bible passages.
"The gentleman will suspend. The member is no longer recognized," Harper said. "The chair must remind members that clause 5 of rule 17 prohibits the wearing of hats in the chamber when the House is in session."
Rush was eventually escorted off the floor by a clerk.
Martin, a 17-year-old African American, was killed in a Sanford, Florida neighborhood last month by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who is of mixed ethnicity. The teen was wearing a hoodie and was unarmed when Zimmerman fatally shot him. Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin in self-defense during a brief struggle. He was not arrested.
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