(UPDATE AT END) Protesters interrupted the start of the closing segment of the Democrat presidential debate in Houston, Texas Thursday night, with some of the protesters storming the stage. They reportedly were chanting, “”We are DACA recipients. Our lives are at risk.”
Protesters were photographed wearing shirts with messages, “”Defend DACA, Abolish ICE, Citizenship For All”, and “No human being is illegal on stolen land”.
Immigration protesters run onto the stage in front of the Democratic presidential candidates, interrupting the 2020 Democratic U.S. presidential debate in Houston, Texas. Photo by @mikeblake pic.twitter.com/VohUQ8vqIF
— corinne_perkins (@corinne_perkins) September 13, 2019
Joe Biden was set to answer a question about dealing with setbacks when the protesters started chanting. TV viewers and reporters in the press room could not make out the chant, but a Democrat activist in the hall, Jess Davidson, said they were right in front of her and were chanting, “We are DACA recipients. Our lives are at risk.” Davidson and others in the hall noted the protesters also stormed the stage–something that ABC News did not show.
"We're going to clear the protesters now" is a real throwback to the Obama years. #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/s8ONH02KmZ
— Brett "Solidarity 2023" Banditelli (@banditelli) September 13, 2019
“The protestors were yelling, “we are DACA recipients. Our lives are at risk.” Unclear if they were TSU students.”
“They also got up on the stage. Solidarity with those brave students who put their bodies on the line tonight — something that is much higher stakes for DACA recipients. We need a #CleanDREAMActNow”
The protestors were yelling, “we are DACA recipients. Our lives are at risk.” Unclear if they were TSU students. #DemDebate #DemocratDebate
— Jess Davidson (@DavidsonJess22) September 13, 2019
They also got up on the stage. Solidarity with those brave students who put their bodies on the line tonight — something that is much higher stakes for DACA recipients. We need a #CleanDREAMActNow
— Jess Davidson (@DavidsonJess22) September 13, 2019
Video and photos:
Protesters rush the stage during the #demdebate pic.twitter.com/PUUuJR5IoI
— Sarah Rafique (@sarahrafique) September 13, 2019
@abc13houston @MelanieLawson13 #ABC13DemDebate protesters stormed the stage. pic.twitter.com/qXAnpPThAh
— Anthony Reed (@13PhotogReed) September 13, 2019
— Anthony Reed (@13PhotogReed) September 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/Sethbatchig/status/1172342122277531648
One of the protesters at the debate tonight wore a shirt that said "No human being is illegal on stolen land” on the back https://t.co/osexJlAYQp pic.twitter.com/rbIsI2PpHP
— Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) September 13, 2019
Immigration protesters are stopped as they run onto the stage during the #DemDebate in Houston. More from the debate: https://t.co/NrXQUWIwEt 📷 @mikeblake pic.twitter.com/nSneesbOaD
— Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) September 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/RealTalk910/status/1172342219090513921
Here are the protesters who were removed just before Biden's final statement at the #DemDebate
Two of their shirts read "DEFEND DACA, ABOLISH ICE, CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL" pic.twitter.com/chP1UHNomA
— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) September 13, 2019
UPDATE: A claim of responsibility by a leftist Korean and Asian American group, “Hi! Those protesters were our 4 DACAmented young leaders who attended the debate as guests. They felt compelled to act in the moment due to current danger that #DACA is in and why our communities need #Citizenship4All”
Hi! Those protesters were our 4 DACAmented young leaders who attended the debate as guests. They felt compelled to act in the moment due to current danger that #DACA is in and why our communities need #Citizenship4All https://t.co/cMzBkfpvVJ
— NAKASEC (@nakasec) September 13, 2019
