For the second year in a row, Al Green was removed from the State of the Union address after standing in protest.
This time, he held a sign that read:
“Black People Aren’t Apes.”
The message was a direct response to a recent social media post by President Donald Trump referencing Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in language widely interpreted as racially demeaning.
Green was escorted out.
Again.
Here are six reasons his stand matters right now.
1. Because Silence Normalizes Dehumanization
The phrase “Black people aren’t apes” is not hyperbole. It confronts a long history of racial dehumanization that has justified discrimination, violence, and exclusion.
When racist rhetoric is allowed to circulate without interruption, it becomes normalized. Green’s protest disrupted that normalization.
2. Because Decorum Is Often Used to Protect Power
Critics will argue that the State of the Union is not the time or place for protest.
But decorum has historically been used to police the behavior of those who challenge injustice, not those who perpetuate it. Green forced the question: is maintaining order more important than confronting racism?
3. Because Public Correction Matters
After his removal, Green told reporters:
“Judging from the expression on his face, he got the message. He saw it, he got the message.”
congressman Al green
Whether one agrees with his method or not, Green ensured that the moment would not pass quietly. His sign became part of the national record.
Sometimes visibility is the objective.
4. Because Tolerating Racism Perpetuates It
Green was clear:
“At some point you cannot let racism continue. If you tolerate it, you perpetuate it. I refuse to tolerate racism.”
His argument was not theatrical; it was ethical. Tolerance of racist language—especially at the highest levels of government—signals permission.
He refused to give that permission.
5. Because Taking a Stand Has Always Been Unpopular in Real Time
Green anticipated criticism:
“There are people who believe that I should not take a stand such as this.”
He referenced Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, both of whom were vilified before they were celebrated.
History often vindicates those who were once labeled disruptive.
6. Because Racism Does Not Disappear Without Resistance
The larger issue is not one protest or one removal.
It is whether racial degradation should be challenged immediately or addressed politely later. Green chose immediacy.
His action raises a broader question for this political moment:
If racism is visible, what is the responsibility of those who see it?
Al Green was removed from the chamber. But his message remained.
And whether one views his protest as strategic or symbolic, it forces a choice: tolerate or confront.
He chose to confront.
What choice are you making?
About the Author
George “Chuck” Patterson is a cultural strategist, writer, and civic organizer whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, community power, and political truth-telling. As Co-Founder and Board President of Mississippi MOVE, Inc. and Chief Experience and Design Officer at Black With No Chaser, Patterson uses narrative as a tool for liberation, amplifying voices and visions often ignored in the mainstream. He is a husband, father, and advocate committed to building community-centered futures rooted in justice and collective struggle.