Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unidentified substance by a man with a syringe during her first in-person town hall of the year in Minneapolis, where she called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The incident occurred minutes into the event when a man rose from the audience, began shouting, and sprayed Omar with a strong-smelling liquid. Security guards quickly tackled the individual, later identified as 55-year-old Anthony James Kazmierczak, who was arrested and charged with third-degree assault. Forensics were called to the scene.
Despite pleas from local officials to end the town hall early, Omar refused, saying: “Here is the reality that people like this ugly man don’t understand, is that we are Minnesota strong. I learned at a young age that you don’t give in to threats.” She later reassured supporters on social media: “I don’t let bullies win. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me.”
Court records show Kazmierczak has multiple prior traffic convictions, including two for driving under the influence, and his social media activity allegedly featured political content critical of Omar. The attack comes amid heightened political tensions following the fatal shooting of a nurse by federal immigration agents, which has prompted bipartisan calls for Secretary Noem’s resignation.
Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the assault as “unacceptable,” while Democratic and Republican lawmakers expressed outrage. Representative Jasmine Crockett linked the violence to “nonstop hate and dangerous rhetoric from Trump and his allies,” and Nancy Mace stated: “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric … no elected official should face physical attacks.”
