Illinois' Rep. Bobby Rush (D) was removed from the House floor Wednesday morning after donning the hood of his sweater — and thus, according to Rep. Gregg Harper (R) — violating a rule against wearing hats.
"The chair will ask the Sargent of Arms to enforce the prohibition on decorum," said Harper, acting as speaker. "Members need to remove their hoods or leave the floor."
Rush had donned the hood to commemorate Trayvon Martin, whose hoodie has been the topic of recent public discourse, particularly in light of Geraldo Rivera's assertion that the teen's clothing had been a major contributing factor in his death. "Just because someone wears a hoodie," said Rush, "does not make them a hoodlum."
Rush was swiftly informed that he was "out of order" as he was quoting scripture after having pulling up his hood and donning a pair of sunglasses.
