Rep. Bobby Rush was reprimanded and escorted from the House floor after donning a hoodie and sunglasses in honor of slain teenager Trayvon Martin. The Chicago Democrat was removed from the floor by the Republican speaker pro tem for violating House rules "prohibiting the wearing of hats."
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Rush, a former member of the militant group the Black Panthers, came into the chamber wearing a suit, with a hoodie underneath. As Rush began to speak, he took off his jacket to reveal the hoodie, which has become a symbol of solidarity with Martin. Pulling up the hood, he said: "Racial profiling has to stop. Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum."
As he continued speaking, he took off his normal glasses and replaced them with sunglasses. He was interrupted by the acting Speaker, Gregg Harper, from Mississippi, who said: "The member will suspend." He added that Rush was in breach of a House regulations on decorum.
Rush continued, quoting from the Bible. Harper, speaking over him, repeated: "The gentleman will suspend." Looking exasperated, Harper finally said: "The member is no longer recognised." He then asked the serjeant-at-arms to enforce the prohibition.
Trayvon Martin was gunned down by a self-appointed neighborhood watchman in suburban Orlando on February 26. The unarmed 17-year-old was wearing a hoodie and carrying a bag of Skittles. The shooter remains free and has not been charged by the police.
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