1 month ago
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What began as a routine address on
gender pay equity
at the Big Ideas Forum turned into a dramatic scene back in 2019 when a
protester
snatched the microphone from Presidential hopeful
Kamala Harris
. The incident, which occurred just ten minutes into Harris’s speech, shocked attendees and temporarily disrupted the event.
The interruption took place when a tall man, clad in black and displaying a press badge, stormed the stage.
Identified later as
Aidan Cook
, the protester seized the microphone from Harris’s hand while she was discussing the gender pay gap, a topic central to her campaign.
Cook, who appeared visibly agitated, used the microphone to express his own concerns. “I’m asking for your attention for a much bigger idea than…” he began before being swiftly cut off by event staff. The situation escalated quickly as security personnel and Harris’s husband, Douglas Emhoff, moved to remove Cook from the stage.
Despite the disruption, Harris maintained her composure and stepped off the stage briefly as security addressed the situation.
After Cook was escorted from the venue, Harris returned to the stage to reassure the crowd. With calm and poise, she addressed her supporters, saying, “It’s all good. It’s all good. Don’t worry.” She then turned to the event’s moderator to continue with her scheduled speech.
The protester, who was not charged, later spoke with Politico, explaining his motivations. “I live in Oakland and I’m one of Kamala Harris’ constituents,” Cook said. “I came to the MoveOn Big Ideas Forum today because there’s one big idea that all of the 2020 presidential candidates are ignoring. By raising and slaughtering billions of animals every year, we are not only undermining our values as a nation of compassionate animal lovers, but we are also contributing to climate change, which is a critical issue.”
English (US) · 