Harris 'Doesn't Flinch' as Protester Grabs Microphone

Sen. Kamala Harris was about to answer a question on the gender pay gap Saturday at a forum in San Francisco when a protester went onstage and grabbed her microphone. The man was removed by security after speaking briefly, the Hill reports. Direct Action Everywhere, an animal rights organization based in California, said in the man wanted to call attention to its agenda. MoveOn, which was hosting the Big Ideas Forum, apologized to Harris later. The man was wearing a press badge, per CNN. Douglas Emhoff, Harris' husband, wrestled the microphone away from him; "Kamala!" cheers followed from the audience when she resumed. "MoveOn members were excited to hear Harris continue to discuss her Big Idea to achieve pay equity," the group's statement said.

"I'm really hoping that we see Secret Service and others begin to step in because that really could have been a horrifying moment," said Sen. Cory Booker, who also spoke at the event and also is running for the Democratic nomination for president. "Kamala Harris doesn’t flinch," her press secretary said, per the Hill. (Democratic candidates have sought Jimmy Carter's counsel)