A protester took Sen. Kamala Harris
Kamala Devi Harris2020 Dems react to Virginia shooting: ‘We must act’ Biden launches digital campaign targeting teachers Trump launching 2020 campaign on June 18 with Florida rally MORE’ (D-Calif.) microphone as she spoke to attendees at an event in San Francisco Saturday.
In footage of the incident at the Big Ideas Forum hosted by MoveOn, the male protester is seen entering the stage just as Harris took a question about the gender pay gap in the United States.
The protester, named Aidan Cook, said he wanted ask for Harris’ attention on “a much bigger idea” before he was removed from the stage by security. Harris continued speaking after his removal.
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Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), an animal rights organization based in California, said in a statement that the man was an activist who wanted to call on Harris “to support ordinary citizens rescuing animals rather than the factory farms that abuse animals.”
Wayne Hsiung, the founder of the group, said that “families of ordinary Americans are being endangered, and whistleblowers who expose criminal violations are being targeted.”
“The typical voter — especially in the Democratic Party — doesn’t approve, so we’re asking for the party to end its support for corporate Big Ag,” he added.
A number of other 2020 Democratic presidential contenders attended the event on Saturday, including Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand2020 Dems react to Virginia shooting: ‘We must act’ Warren unveils new plan to allow presidents to be indicted The Hill’s Morning Report — Trump turns the page back to Mueller probe MORE (N.Y.) , Corey Booker (N.J.), Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders2020 Dems react to Virginia shooting: ‘We must act’ Overnight Health Care: Missouri abortion clinic will remain open | Utah proposes new cap on Medicaid spending | FDA regulators want more information on CBD products Biden launches digital campaign targeting teachers MORE (Vt.) and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke — several of them spoke also prior to Harris’ session.
When asked by a reporter after his removal about whether he had considered how it would look beforehand for him to be taking away a microphone away from a woman of color, Cook said:“I did. I tried to show my profound respect for each of the people onstage.”
I asked Aidan Cook, an animal rights activist who jumped onstage to interrupt Kamala Harris, if he had considered the optics of literally taking the microphone away from women of color.
“I did,” he said. “I tried to show my profound respect for each of the people onstage.” pic.twitter.com/uyMpV82lVP
— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) June 1, 2019
Harris’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
