‘I Simply Stood Up’: The Shocking Detention of Aliya Rahman During the State of the Union

WASHINGTON – As President Donald Trump acknowledged a World War II veteran's 100th birthday, Aliya Rahman rose to applaud.

However, when Trump made derogatory remarks about Minneapolis’ Somali community, Rahman stood again—not in applause, but in silent protest.

This behavior is typical for attendees at a State of the Union address, where guests often navigate the complex dynamics of political support and dissent. Rahman attended the event on Tuesday night as a guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), fully aware that her reactions would be broadcast nationwide.

But on this occasion, her standing led to an arrest.

Rahman, a Bangladeshi American software engineer from Minneapolis, recounted that she had already stood multiple times before police approached her, insisting she “couldn’t stand up.” Initially dismissing their seriousness, she was soon forcibly removed from her seat.

“I just stood up,” Rahman stated in an interview. “I stood silently, with no signs. I was not blocking anyone’s view of the hall. And then I was arrested.”

Her shoulders were already injured from a previous incident involving federal Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents who had surrounded her car, smashed her window, and detained her. She claims to have suffered severe medical neglect and violence while in custody, requiring hospitalization for injuries sustained during that encounter.

Witnesses recorded the incident at the State of the Union, and footage of her earlier confrontation with ICE had gone viral. Just weeks prior, she testified before Congress about the abuse she endured, which she believes nearly cost her life.

Some women nearby recognized Rahman from her testimony and attempted to intervene as she was being dragged away. One was an attorney who offered assistance; another, Dr. Anita Patel, a guest of Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), was aware of Rahman’s physical challenges.

“She stood up silently, did not make a noise, and was [descended] upon as if she was a criminal while she wore an N95 mask and used a cane,” Patel detailed in an Instagram post.

“I jumped over the railing and said, ‘You need to let her go. She has bilateral shoulder injuries. She has a traumatic brain injury, and she’s neurodivergent,’” Patel recounted in a video. “They subsequently continued to pull her. Then I got in front of them. They told me, either I step aside or I get dragged out with her.”

Patel emphasized: “Don’t let them twist her story into something that it’s not.”

After being ejected from the event, Capitol Police handcuffed Rahman, confiscated her cane, and detained her in a stairwell without clarifying whether she was under arrest. Despite her repeated requests for her cane, one officer dismissed her need by stating, “You are walking.”

“Bullying, intimidating, not listening,” Rahman described the officers' actions. “Who takes a cane away from a disabled person? I’m trying to slow them down. I’m not resisting; I’m disabled.”

The officers’ aggression necessitated medical attention at George Washington University Hospital after they forcibly removed her from the venue. She was later booked at U.S. Capitol Police headquarters.

Rahman suspects her arrest was due to her association with Omar, a frequent critic of Trump who faces ongoing racist attacks from this administration.

U.S. Capitol Police stated that Rahman was arrested for “demonstrating.” Their official statement noted that at approximately 10:07 p.m., an individual in the House Gallery began demonstrating during the State of the Union Address and refused to comply with orders to sit down. “It is illegal to disrupt Congress and demonstrate in Congressional Buildings,” they asserted regarding Rahman's arrest under D.C. Code §10-503.16 - Unlawful Conduct, Disruption of Congress.

A spokesperson clarified that standing up is considered a form of demonstration: “Yes – standing (not just standing momentarily with the crowd) is a form of demonstration,” they explained in an email. “The officers had no idea what her background was or whose guest she was. They told her to sit down multiple times. She refused. It’s simple.”

Requests for the Capitol Police report on Rahman’s arrest were met with a denial for public access.

Rahman’s attorney, Jessica Gingold from the MacArthur Justice Center, described the situation as “unprecedented,” noting that it is rare for someone to be ejected from such an event for merely standing silently—let alone facing criminal charges that could lead to six months in prison. They aim to have the case dismissed before any hearing occurs.

“Our reading of the statute suggests it pertains to ‘loud, threatening or abusive language,’ or ‘disorderly or disruptive conduct,’” Gingold explained regarding the D.C. code. “She did none of that. She stood up.”

She pointed out that “many other people” have expressed themselves during past State of the Unions without facing similar repercussions, questioning why Rahman is uniquely targeted with such charges.

“Our strong belief is this should be dismissed,” Gingold asserted.

Omar also condemned the treatment Rahman received from law enforcement: “The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy,” she stated on social media. “I am calling for a full explanation of why this arrest occurred.”