Heckling the Hindu
A Hindu clergyman intoned the Senate’s opening prayer for the first time in history on Thursday, but the event was marred by the outbursts of three Christian protesters.
Rajan Zed, who spoke at the invitation of his fellow Nevadan, Majority Leader Harry Reid, chanted from Sanskrit holy texts, including a selection from the Bhagavad Gita. He also said a prayer for Lady Bird Johnson, who died Wednesday.
But as Zed began speaking, a group of protesters in the gallery began shouting, “We shall have no other gods before you” and referring to the “prayer of the wicked, which is an abomination.”
According to Capitol Police, Ante Nedlko Pavkovic, Katherine Lynn Pavkovic and Christan Renee Sugar were arrested and charged with disruption of Congress. All have been cited and released with a future court date.
