Investigate the Arrest of Aliya Rahman by Capitol Police

At the State of the Union, the nation watched as Capitol police forcibly grabbed and arrested Aliya Rahman — a guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar — for simply standing peacefully and silently in the gallery.

Rahman was not disrupting the event. She was not charged with violence. She was an invited guest of a Member of Congress.

Just weeks earlier, Rahman was assaulted by ICE agents in Minneapolis during a separate encounter that left her injured. Instead of accountability, she experienced force again—this time inside the U.S. Capitol. According to NBC News and MPR, she required medical attention after officers removed her from the chamber. Rep. Omar condemned the arrest and called for answers, saying the treatment of her guest was unacceptable.

The State of the Union is one of the most visible events in American democracy. If a congressional guest can be violently removed for standing silently, without disrupting proceedings, what does that say about our commitment to civil liberties?

Civil rights advocates have long warned about aggressive law enforcement tactics and the erosion of constitutional protections. The First Amendment protects peaceful expression and presence. The public deserves to know who made the decision to arrest Rahman, what justification was used, and whether Capitol Police violated their own protocols.

We demand immediate action before Congress leaves for its next recess. The Department of Justice must announce an inquiry now.

Sign this petition to demand a full investigation and real accountability. Share it widely. Our collective voices can ensure that what happened to Aliya Rahman is not swept aside—and that every person’s right to stand peacefully in our democracy is protected.