Protestor Grabs Mic From Sen. Kamala Harris During MoveOn Event

A protestor jumped onto the stage and snatched the microphone from presidential candidate Sen.Kamala Harris (D-California) at a MoveOn.org event on Saturday. The man, who was later identified as Aidan Cook, took to the front of the stage as if to give a presentation, but was only able to say, “We were protesting just a few minutes ago asking for your attention to a much bigger idea …” before he was wrestled away by security and Harris’ husband. Harris was unhurt and quickly resumed her address to the gathered audience.

We sincerely regret that a protestor was able to gain access to the stage at our forum today & we apologize to Sen. @KamalaHarris. The protestor was removed & the program resumed. MoveOn members were excited to hear Harris continue to discuss her Big Idea to achieve pay equity.

— MoveOn (@MoveOn) June 2, 2019

Cook, who was removed from the event but not charged with anything, belonged to a group called Direct Action Everywhere that fights for animal rights. The organization claimed that Cook simply wanted to ask Harris to support citizens helping animals instead of letting them be abused by big factory farms. Cook later complained to reporters that “there’s one big idea that all of the 2020 presidential candidates are ignoring.”

SLIDESHOW: TOP DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020

Cook’s stage-storming took place during the MoveOn’s Big Ideas Forum at which Harris was explaining her signature plan to close the gender pay gap. The irony of a cis white male physically silencing a woman of color and speaking over her was not lost on many who attended the convention, only adding to the urgency of plans like Harris’

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