The excerpt does not provide additional substantive details about the speech or broader legislative context.

During the State of the Union address, Texas Democrat Al Green was escorted out of the Senate chamber after displaying a protest sign that read “BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES,” referencing a viral meme tied to a video about Barack and Michelle Obama.

The report from CNN highlights the sequence of events during the State of the Union and the disruptive moment.

Observers noted other political figures and implications for Texas politics, including mentions of Troy Nehls, Ken Paxton, and potential links to Paxton’s and Cornyn’s races.

Green later said his goal was to ensure the president understood the message, choosing a position in the aisle to face Trump directly as the sign was shown.

This was not Green’s first disruption of the address, as he had previously interrupted Trump’s speech in March 2025 and was censured for that outburst.

The piece includes links to related coverage on Trump’s remarks, Obama era reactions, and broader debates over protest in U.S. politics.

Democratic voices weighed in on protest strategy, with some suggesting silent abstention or non-attendance as appropriate responses during the address.

Democratic leadership urged quiet protest, while others framed the moment as part of ongoing debates over race, civility, and accountability in political discourse.

Representative Menefee did not attend the address, staying in Houston for community and LULAC meetings.

Speaker Mike Johnson called for order during the disruption, with additional reporting from Fox 5 DC and other outlets noted.

The Associated Press contributed to the report on the incident.