Video Shows Capitol Police Arresting Father of Parkland Shooting Victim During Committee Hearing
Manuel Oliver, the father of a student killed during the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, was seen being arrested by Capitol Police during a committee hearing.
A video shows officers holding Oliver down on the floor Thursday afternoon while some began shouting.
“Get off of him!” one woman could be heard saying.
Another shouted, “What are you doing to this man!?”
One man yelled, “He is a grieving father!”
Watch the video below:
USCP appears to be arresting a man outside the hearing room pic.twitter.com/K3nMVWsJZT
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) March 23, 2023
The moment sparked several reactions from others on Twitter.
Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.) tweeted, “Here is [Manuel Oliver] being arrested for speaking out at a committee hearing. His son, Jaoquin, was shot to death in Parkland, Fl.”
He added, “MANNY IS A HERO. He didn’t deserve this. The Republican Chair of this committee just called him a narcissist. Disgraceful.”
Here is @manueloliver00 being arrested for speaking out at a committee hearing. His son, Jaoquin, was shot to death in Parkland, Fl.
MANNY IS A HERO. He didn’t deserve this. The Republican Chair of this committee just called him a narcissist. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/6jccYvesHb
— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) March 23, 2023
Fred Guttenberg, a father who also lost his child during the shooting, wrote, “I am away on vacation and learning the details of what happened to my brother [Manuel Oliver]. I am horrified.”
He continued, “[Rep Pat Fallon], you despicable waste of oxygen. How dare you incite this violence against Manny and how dare you insult him. An apology is not necessary. RESIGN!!!”
I am away on vacation and learning the details of what happened to my brother @manueloliver00. I am horrified. @RepPatFallon, you despicable waste of oxygen. How dare you incite this violence against Manny and how dare you insult him. An apology is not necessary. RESIGN!!! https://t.co/UtDyYWUZRJ
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) March 23, 2023
Writer Kerry Eleveld added, “How dare someone who lost his son to gun violence in the Parkland massacre try to speak at a GOP-led hearing on gun violence.”
How dare someone who lost his son to gun violence in the Parkland massacre try to speak at a GOP-led hearing on gun violence.
Nice fascism, @RepPatFallon. https://t.co/FuSOtKe4mR
— Kerry Eleveld (@kerryeleveld) March 23, 2023
One tweet called it “absolutely disgusting,” adding, “Treating a father who has lost his child to an act of violence like this is inhumane.”
This is absolutely disgusting. Treating a father who has lost his child to an act of violence like this is inhumane. https://t.co/eTu51kaxfA
— Matt Royer (@royermattw) March 23, 2023
According to ABC News, Oliver and his wife, Patricia, were removed from the House oversight subcommittee hearing by the officers.
The order to remove them was given by Chairman Pat Fallon.
Their son, Joaquin, was killed at the age of 17 during the shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The outlet noted the couple have been advocating against gun violence since.
In July 2022, Oliver was removed from the White House after expressing his frustration with the Biden administration for not taking enough action to prevent gun violence.
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