Rep. Van Orden and Peace Group Member Accuse Each Other of Assault
Activist arrested after incident outside RNC involving Wisconsin congressman.
U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden at the National Federation of Republican Women’s luncheon at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, June 16, 2024. Van Orden has been accused of shoving past a woman in line for the event outside the hotel, and has accused her of assaulting him. (Ashley Murray | States Newsroom)
A Wisconsin member of Congress and a staff member of the peace group CODEPINK are each accusing the other of assault in an incident outside a Republican National Convention event Tuesday.
In a statement CODEPINK said the group’s staff member, Nour Jaghama, was shoved from behind by U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) while Jaghama and other CODEPINK members were in line for an event.
“A nearby police officer witnessed this assault and I understand they have been arrested,” Van Orden’s post stated.
The incident occurred at about 11 a.m. outside the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, where people were in line to go into the building for the event in the hotel’s grand ballroom, said Melissa Garriga, a CODEPINK spokesperson.
CODEPINK’s statement said Jaghama was “peacefully waiting in line to enter an event” when she was “intentionally bumped into by a bald, white member of Congress while he tried to shove past her.”
Nour Jaghama. (Cropped screenshot from CODEPINK video, used with permission)
The statement said Jaghama did not react to the incident, but was accused of assault by a Texas State police officer who was at the scene and who took her into custody. Milwaukee Police subsequently arrived and made the arrest.
CODEPINK made a post on X about the incident with a video made on the scene, apparently just after the incident and while some other people were still in line to enter the hotel. CODEPINK published the post at 3:27 p.m. Tuesday.
In the video, Jaghama says of Van Orden, “He cut me in line, so I stood in front of him, because I was first.”
In a video on CODEPINK’s website, one of the group’s members says that Van Orden “as soon as he ran into her said, ‘You are assaulting a member of Congress.’”
CODEPINK’s statement described Jaghama as “visibly Palestinian.” The statement said two other CODEPINK staff members ahead of Jaghama had gone into the building “without any issues, raising concerns of racial profiling.”
Garriga said Jaghama was taken to the Milwaukee Police Department District 3 station after her arrest. “We do not know what the charges are as of now,” Garriga told the Wisconsin Examiner in an email early Tuesday evening.
Van Orden’s post on X about the incident was time-stamped at 5:26 p.m.
In his post, Van Orden wrote, “This appears to be an incident of political violence and I will never tolerate this. Regardless of the severity of the violence, political violence is political violence.”
Peace group member accused of assaulting Van Orden says congressman tried to shove past her was originally published by Wisconsin Examiner.
WOW grabbing pink never seems to reach the expectations for either parties involved.
Yes, each accused the other of assault but only one is arrested. And the “pro Hamas” female was initially arrested by a Texas State police officer. (Well those 4000 out of state cops have to occupy their time somehow! At least he didn’t shoot her). Remember, more police equals more “safety” and now is the time for unity not the division. Blah, blah, blah she was pro Hamas blah blah blah.
The photo caption says the date was JUNE 16 (assume Tuesday JULY 16th)
Common courtesy. Gentlemanliness. Basic decent social behavior.
These are things that Derrick Van Orden lacks, along with the ability to think beyond the moment in which he currently exists.
His meds may need adjusting.