A man was arrested Saturday at a conservative gathering widely considered the kickoff event for the 2016 Republican presidential race in Iowa.
Marco Malagon, 32, was part of a group of protesters who interrupted Rick Perry’s speech at the Iowa Freedom Summit in Des Moines, an event co-hosted by Rep. Steve King, one of the most outspoken opponents of illegal immigration.
Shortly after Perry detailed his efforts to combat problems at the border as governor of Texas, whose final day in office was this week, a group representing the DREAM Action Coalition stood up and started chanting from the balcony.
Perry continued with his speech, trying to drown out the shouting with a more robust tone in his remarks. The audience soon joined in with applause, as police began escorting out the protesters.
Outside police officers dragged Malagon, who’s from Dallas, to a police car and arrested him.
Erika Andiola is an activist with the group and helped lead the effort Saturday. She made headlines in August when she confronted King at a fundraiser he was hosting with Sen. Rand Paul, another potential 2016 candidate.
Gov. Chris Christie’s speech was also met with a protester, who was quickly ushered out. Christie, trying to resume his remarks, joked: “Don’t they know I am from New Jersey?”