A Palestenian-American member of an anti-war group called CODEPINK has filed an assault charge against U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell of Pascagoula, a spokeswoman for the group says.
The former Jackson County sheriff is being accused of assault by CODEPINK member Sumer Mobarak.
A video shows Ezell swiping at something as he hurries down a hallway Tuesday morning while the co-founder of California-based CODEPINK, Medea Benjamin, walks beside him asking questions about the war between Israel and Hamas. Mobarak was behind him, also asking questions and videotaping the exchange with her cell phone, CODEPINK media relations manager Melissa Garriga told the Sun Herald.
Ezell can be seen turning back and swiping at someone as he yells, “Shut up, Knock it off. Get away from me.”
Garriga said he hit Mobarak’s hand as she held up her cell phone, knocking the phone from her hand.
“Things happened so quickly,” Garriga said. Garriga said Mobarak is doing OK, “just kind of shocked.”
Members of Congress “say horrible things to us all the time,” Garriga said Wednesday morning. ‘That’s kind of expected, especially with something as highly politically charged right now as the situation between Israel and Gaza.”
Ezell alleged assault ‘shocking’
CODEPINK has been a presence in the Capitol for 20 years, advocating for an end to war and conflict worldwide.
“Never has anyone responded with a physical response,” Garriga said. “That was a little shocking.”
In a statement Ezell’s office released, published by the Associated Press, Ezell said:
“These China-backed protesters want to harass and intimidate members of Congress into ending our support for Israel and our opposition to Hamas terrorists. I will not be harassed or intimidated by the Chinese Communist Party, Hamas, or their supporters, and I will continue standing with our Israeli allies against terrorism.”
Garriga said that Ezell is implying the Chinese government financially supports the nonprofit organization but it gets all its funding from individuals and grants. She said the group has worked the halls of Congress for 20 years to call for an end to violence worldwide.
However, a New York Times investigation in 2023 traced substantial Code Pink contributions in recent years to groups linked to an American millionaire who works closely with the Chinese government.
The U.S. Capitol Police told The Associated Press that the agency is looking into the assault allegations.
After the incident with Ezell, Mobarak told him, according to CODEPINK: “You are disgusting and racist. How shameful that you even work in this administration, and that you put your hands on a person. Shame on you, shame on you. You are the violent one, not the people protesting peacefully.”
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