A Father Whose Son Was A Casualty Of The Afghanistan Withdrawal Was Arrested For Interrupting Biden’s Speech With “Abbey Gate” At The State Of The Union Address

By
Scott McJunkin
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Source: C-Span

A Gold Star father was arrested during President Biden’s State of the Union address after he yelled, “Abbey Gate!” in reference to the chaotic and deadly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

The father, whose son was killed in the withdrawal, was taken into custody by Capitol Police.

The incident occurred while Biden was discussing his foreign policy achievements during the address. The Gold Star father, whose identity has not been released, stood up and shouted, “Abbey Gate!” The term refers to the Abbey Gate at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, where a suicide bombing attack killed 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghan civilians during the withdrawal.

The President paused his speech as the man was escorted out of the House chamber by Capitol Police. Biden then addressed the incident, saying, “We must never forget the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform, and we must always honor their memory by striving for a more peaceful world.”

The arrest of the Gold Star father has sparked a debate about freedom of speech and the right to protest during high-profile events such as the State of the Union address. Some argue that the man’s actions were disrespectful and disruptive, while others believe that he had a right to express his grief and frustration in the face of what many consider a foreign policy disaster.

The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing pain and anger felt by many Americans over the Afghanistan withdrawal, which has been widely criticized for its chaotic execution and the tragic loss of life that occurred.

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