Watch: Former US Marine’s arm broke while protesting against war in Iran
WASHINGTON: A former US Marine was arrested after disrupting a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at the United States Capitol while protesting against the war in Iran, leading to a scuffle that left three police officers injured.
The protester has been identified as Brian C. McGinnis, 44, from North Carolina. He interrupted the hearing on Wednesday, shouting, “America does not want to send its sons and daughters to war for Israel!”
Videos circulating on social media show McGinnis standing up during the session and raising slogans before officers from the United States Capitol Police moved in to remove him from the chamber.
McGinnis, who was wearing a US Marine Corps uniform, reportedly resisted as officers tried to escort him out. Footage shows him holding onto a doorway while officers attempted to pull him away. Montana Senator Tim Sheehy, a member of the committee and a former Navy SEAL, was also seen assisting officers in separating the protester from the doorframe.
A snapping sound could be heard in the video during the struggle. According to Capitol Police, McGinnis injured his arm while resisting removal from the hearing room.
In a statement, Capitol Police said: “This afternoon, an unruly man who started to illegally protest during a hearing put everyone in a dangerous position by violently resisting and fighting our officers’ attempts to remove him from the room.”
Authorities said McGinnis and three officers sustained injuries during the confrontation and were treated.
Police have charged him with three counts of assaulting a police officer, three counts of resisting arrest and one count related to unlawful demonstration.
Senator Sheehy later wrote on social media platform X that he had tried to help de-escalate the situation. “This gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one. I hope he gets the help he needs without causing further violence,” he said.
Earlier in the day, a video posted to an account under McGinnis’s name described him as a Green Party candidate for the US Senate. In the video, he said he had travelled to Washington to protest against what he described as the push toward war.
According to a Reuters report, McGinnis’s arm was broken during the struggle as security personnel attempted to remove him from the hearing. Footage shared by the anti-war group Code Pink showed him shouting slogans against US involvement in the conflict before he was escorted out of the room by security officers.
This is such a such an important video that the mainstream media CNN FOX News etc can never ever stream it
— Furkan Gözükara (@FurkanGozukara) March 4, 2026
I truly wish all the Americans had watched this video
See how these sold out traitors shows 0 respect and gives 0 value to Marine Sgt. Brian McGuinness for sake of Israel pic.twitter.com/Vr5osByUQu
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
