Senator Kay Hagan was interrupted by immigration activists during a recent campaign speech who said the North Carolina Democrat was “anti-immigrant.”
Hagan was speaking at a baseball field in Raleigh about the influence of the Koch Brothers and her Republican opponent Thom Tillis’s record on education. A number of young activists began holding up signs outside the field that read, “Kay Hagan lost my vote” and “Friends don’t deport friends.” When campaign staff members tried to disperse the small group of protestors, two activists inside the fence grabbed the signs and joined Hagan onstage.
“Kay Hagan’s anti-immigrant,” said one activist on the stage. Hagan stopped her speech to debate the activists.
“Oh, y’all, we definitely support immigration reform,” Hagan said, looking at the protestors. “But you need to go talk to Thom Tillis.” One of the protestors began to argue with Hagan, and the Democrat shot back.
“No, no, no, no, noooooo, no, no, no, no, no,” Hagan said, looking frustrated. “Y’all, I’ve supported commonsense, bipartisan immigration reform.”
When the activists were unabated, Hagan moved on. “All right, folks,” she said, moving the microphone, which causes a feedback squeal. “This is a serious election.” Watch the video below:
The activists appear to be protesting Hagan’s last-minute no vote on the DREAM Act in 2010. An immigration activist organization has been running Spanish-language billboards in North Carolina saying that Hagan is “not a friend of immigrants” because of this vote.
Hagan leads Tillis by just under two points in the Real Clear Politics average of polls.
