A demonstrator who got up and shouted "Terrorist!" at Turkey's president during a speech at a hotel on Thursday was grabbed by bodyguards and rushed out of the hall.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was addressing the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square when a few members of the audience began yelling at him. The initial protester who interrupted Erdoğan is reportedly an American citizen. A video posted on Twitter from the audience shows a man yelling at the president, "You're a terrorist! Get out of my country!"
American former YPG volunteer protests during Turkish dictator speech: "You're a terrorist, get out of my country". pic.twitter.com/lHwTBn1426
— Afarin Mamosta (@AfarinMamosta) 21 Eylül 2017
Another demonstrator unfurled a banner for a banned Kurdish group and was escorted out. The order was restored fairly quickly, and Erdogan continued his address.
"My dear brothers, my dear brothers, my dear brothers, I have an important request from you: Don't let three to five impertinent people, three to five hall terrorists ruin our lovely gathering," Erdoğan said.
Police said one security officer suffered a minor injury.
It was unclear whether the men in suits who ejected the demonstrator from the hall were U.S. Secret Service agents, private security guards hired for the event or members of Erdogan's security detail. But it did not appear that Turkish security officials were involved, the U.S. Department of State said.
In May, Turkish security officials were seen on video hitting and kicking protesters who had gathered outside the Turkish ambassador's residence. The incident caused outrage in the United States.
