Hoodie gets Reb. Bobby Rush in trouble on the House floor (VIDEO)
Tracy Martin (left in orange shirt), and Sybrina Fulton,(R), parents of slain teenager Trayvon Martin, pray at a Million Hoodies March on March 21, 2012 in New York City. The family members joined hundreds of protesters calling for justice in the killing of Trayvon Martin, 17, who was was pursued and shot on February 26 in Sanford, Florida by “neighborhood watch” member George Zimmerman, reportedly because the teenager’s hoodie made him look suspicious. Under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, Zimmerman has not been charged with a crime in the shooting.
Rep. Bobby Rush put on a hoodie during a speech on the House floor to protest the shooting death last month of Trayvon Martin. Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, was shot to death by George Zimmerman while wearing a hoodie.
But Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) repeatedly interrupted and asked Rush to leave on a technicality: lawmakers aren't allowed to wear hats while on the House floor, The Hill reported.
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Rush, an Illinois Democrat, removed his suit coat and pulled up the hood on a sweatshirt he was wearing, the Associated Press reported. "Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum," Rush said.
Harper tried to interrupt. "The member will suspend," he said while hitting the podium. But Rush continued with his speech.
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Harper then announced: "The chair will ask the sergeant in arms to enforce the prohibition on decor."
Or, in layman's terms: "Hey security guard, kick out the guy with the hat."
See our complete Trayvon Martin case coverage.
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