© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Activist Disrupts Event for Muslim US House Candidates

Rashida Tlaib
Facebook page of Rashida Tlaib
Michigan congressional candidate Rashida Tlaib

A conservative activist disrupted a campaign event for Minnesota state Rep. Ilhan Omar and Michigan congressional candidate Rashida Tlaib.

Laura Loomer was part of a group that confronted Omar and Tlaib at the Holy Land deli in Minneapolis on Saturday night.

Loomer told the Star Tribune she's been traveling the country investigating Muslim candidates for office.

Tlaib won a Democratic primary last week that set her up to become the first female Muslim member of Congress.

Omar, a Minneapolis Democrat, became the nation's first Somali-American state lawmaker. 

She's running for the U.S. House seat held by Democrat Keith Ellison.

Omar didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Loomer was arrested in New York in June after storming the stage of a production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" that has a character resembling Donald Trump who's assassinated.

Related Content
Together we’ve already reduced WKAR’s $1.6 million budget gap created by the loss of federal funding. With your sustaining support we can close the remaining $500,000 gap and keep trusted public media strong for mid-Michigan. The best way to support WKAR is to become a sustainer. Already a sustainer? Please consider upgrading your current monthly gift.