When Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California was forcibly eliminated and tackled throughout Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem’s press convention in Los Angeles on Thursday, Democrats throughout the nation instantly got here to his protection.
As a result of, for them, they know that this was far more than only a matter of an unruly politician being escorted out of a room.
“It’s disgusting. Reeks of totalitarianism. Un-American. Not what democracies do,” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer wrote on X.
“Sen. Padilla was in that constructing to ask questions of what is going on on in California, doing his obligation to his constituents. We’d like solutions now,” he added.
Even former Vice President Kamala Harris spoke out, calling the stunt a “shameful and stunning abuse of power.”
Padilla confirmed as much as Noem’s press convention to ask concerning the ongoing navy invasion of Los Angeles. And regardless of figuring out himself as a senator, Padilla was compelled out of the room earlier than he may end asking his query, pushed to the ground, and handcuffed.
“I used to be there peacefully,” he advised reporters, highlighting that, if that is how a senator is handled, this can be a regarding signal of how common People shall be handled.
“If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, if this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,” Padilla stated.
The DHS, in the meantime, tried to disclaim duty for the mistreatment of Padilla by claiming that he by no means recognized himself. Even Home Speaker Mike Johnson went so far as to say that Padilla, whose each transfer was caught on digicam, rushed the stage.
Unhappy with these lies, Democrats marched to Senate Majority Chief John Thune’s workplace to demand solutions.
“The brutal handcuffing of Senator Padilla is an affront to democracy,” Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland wrote on BlueSky. “I’m joining House Democrats to march to Senator Thune’s office and to demand that he protect his Colleagues from this out-of-control authoritarian onslaught.”
And whereas Republicans disguise behind flimsy excuses, Democrats like Rep. Eric Swalwell of California took to Capitol Hill to demand Noem’s resignation.
“Kristi Noem must resign. She has deported a four year old with cancer, detained a U.S. marshal, and arrested two members of Congress. She’s lost the confidence of the American people. ICE must stop terrorizing our communities,” he wrote on BlueSky.
Together with the submit, Swalwell included a video of himself alongside different politicians, together with former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, during which he compares masked ICE brokers to “Russian KGB agents.”
“It’s No Kings Day this Saturday. Americans need to show up,” he added. “Because if we don’t show up, democracy dies.”
