Protester Storms Stage, Grabs Mic from Kamala Harris, Starts Rant Before Security Intervenes

A protester stormed the stage during a Kamala Harris question-and-answer session, grabbing the microphone from her and began ranting about how he wanted to ask her a more important question. 

Several tense moments transpired before a man shuffled the protester off the stage.

The protester, Aidan Cook, 24, is a part of an animal rights group, called Direct Action Everywhere. That group said in a statement: that Cook wanted to call on Harris “to support ordinary citizens rescuing animals rather than the factory farms that abuse animals.” 

A reporter for the Guardian, Lois Beckett, said she asked the man afterward about the “optics of literally taking the microphone away from women of color.” 

“I did,” he replied. “I tried to show my profound respect for the people on stage.”

Cook also told the reporter he tried to show his respect while grabbing Kamala’s mic, by telling her: “I’m really sorry to be doing this, I just have to ask you an important question.”

The event was hosted by MoveOn.org.