We Heart Cynthia McKinney
Report: McKinney Punches Cop
Web Editor: Michael King
Last Modified: 3/30/2006 6:48:42 PMAccording to sources on Capitol Hill, U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) punched a Capitol police officer on Wednesday afternoon after he mistakenly pursued her for failing to pass through a metal detector.
Members of Congress are not required to pass through metal detectors.
Sources say that the officer was at a position in the Longworth House Office Building, and neither recognized McKinney, nor saw her credentials as she went around the metal detector.
The officer called out, “Ma’am, Ma’am, Ma’am!!” and walked after her in an attempt to stop her. When he caught McKinney, he grabbed her by the arm.
Witnesses say McKinney pulled her arm away, and with her cell phone in hand, punched the officer in the chest.
According to the Drudge Report, the entire incident is on tape. Drudge continues, “The cop is pressing charges, and the USCP (United States Capitol Police) are waiting until Congress adjourns to arrest her, a source claims.”
No charges have been filed. Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider says that senior officials have been made aware of the incident and are investigating.
An unconfirmed statement attributed to McKinney has been released on the Internet, where she allegedly claims to have been harassed by Capitol Hill Police.
The statement’s writer says that she has been harassed by white police officers she says do not recognize her due to her recently changed hairstyle.
“Do I have to contact the police every time I change my hairstyle? How do we account for the fact that when I wore my braids every day for 11 years, I still faced this problem, primarily from certain white police officers,” the statement says.
The writer details the incident, saying, “I was rushing to my meeting when a white police officer yelled to me. He approached me, bodyblocked me, physically touching me. I used my arm to get him off of me. I told him not to touch me several times. He asked for my ID and I showed it to him. He then let me go and I proceeded to my meeting and I assume that the Police Officer resumed his duties. I have counseled with the Sergeant-at-Arms and Acting Assistant Chief Thompson several times before and counseled with them again on today’s incident. I offered also to counsel with the offending police officer.”
If she had been a white man this would not have happened. He grabbed her by the arm. Do you think a white cop would’ve done this to Joe Leiberman or Katherine Harris? Because McKinney is a black woman this racist cop felt entitled to put his hands on her.
Perhaps she should’ve worn this – then he’d never’ve known the difference.
Isn’t interfering with a duly elected representative in the course of her congrsssional duties some sort of offence? Some members of congress would like to carry concealed weapons. He’s lucky she didn’t shoot him.
Red burqa t-shirt from Tennesee Guerilla Women.
Read More: US Congress Cynthia McKinney Homeland Security
