On Tuesday night, a town hall meeting in Minneapolis turned into a scene of chaos. While addressing her constituents, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was targeted by an attacker. A 55-year-old man lunged at her and sprayed an unidentified pink liquid from a syringe.
Security quickly tackled the suspect, identified as Anthony J. Kazmierczak. He was taken into custody and currently faces a third-degree assault charge. Fortunately, the Congresswoman was not physically harmed during the encounter.
Despite the frightening situation and the strong odor of the mysterious liquid, Omar refused to leave. She chose to stay and finish the meeting, telling the crowd that she would not be intimidated by “bullies” or “agitators.”
The incident has drawn a sharp divide in political reactions. While the U.S. Capitol Police condemned the attack and promised swift justice, President Trump dismissed the event. In a statement to reporters, he questioned the legitimacy of the attack, suggesting it may have been staged.
Before the disruption, Omar had been speaking out against recent federal immigration tactics in Minnesota. She highlighted the community’s resilience during recent times of unrest and urged local citizens to remain proud of their solidarity in the face of violence.