DREAMer protesters attempt to disrupt Iowa Freedom Summit

A group of DREAMer protesters attempted to disrupt the speech of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry at the Iowa Freedom Summit this afternoon. They were escorted from the building, but continued to cause a disruption in the front lobby. A single protester then tried to disrupt the speech of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

A group of DREAMer protesters attempted to disrupt the speech of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry at the Iowa Freedom Summit this afternoon. They were escorted from the building, but continued to cause a disruption in the front lobby. A single protester then tried to disrupt the speech of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

A group of DREAMer protestors attempted to shout down former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during his speech at the Iowa Freedom Summit today.

Perry shouted over the top of them, without interruption, while members of the audience also cheered loudly to attempt to drown them out. The protestors were escorted out by a pair of Des Moines police officers.

A few moments later, a single protester attempted to shout down Christie during his speech, but was drowned out by the audience. Christie simply retored, “Doesn’t he know I’m from New Jersey?”

The protesters had been seated in the balcony for at least an hour prior to their outburst. Protesters continued to cause a disruption in the front lobby of the Hoyt Sherman Place, the location of the Iowa Freedom Summit, after they were escorted from the auditorium.

The group, many of whom were identified as protesters who had confronted U.S. Rep. Steve King at a campaign event in Spirit Lake last year, had announced plans to protest before the event began. Protesters were positioned outside Hoyt Sherman Place while audience members waited for doors to open this morning.