House Democrat removed for wearing hoodie

House Democrat removed for wearing hoodie

Updated 2:36 p.m. ET

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., was escorted off the U.S. House floor today for wearing a hoodie as he protested the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

The lawmaker called for a full investigation into the death of Trayvon, a Florida teenager shot last month by a neighborhood watch volunteer. The 17-year-old's death has become a cause celebre, sparking a national conversation about racial profiling and "Stand Your Ground" self-defense laws.

STORY: House panel focuses on Trayvon

"Racial profiling has to stop, Mr. Speaker," Rush said. "Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum."

The congressman, wearing the hoodie again, said later in a CNN interview that "life is much more than a piece of clothing."

"We can't lie down and accept murder beca use someone wears a hood," Rush told CNN. "A hood is nothing but a piece of clothing."

The House has strict rules about what lawmakers can wear on the floor. Rep. Greg Harper, R-Miss., who was presiding over the chamber when Rush was speaking, banged the gavel repeatedly and reminded him of rules that prohibit the wearing of hats in the chamber while the House is in session.

Harper said wearing a hoodie was "not consistent with this rule." Rush was escorted out by someone in the Sergeant at Arms office.

Rush, first elected in 1992, was among the House members who attended a Capitol Hill forum yesterday with Trayvon's parents. Rush co-founded the Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers in 1968. His son was shot to death in 1999.

The hoodie has become a symbol of support for Trayvon. Miami Heat stars LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and their teammates wore hooded sweatshirts and posed for pictures wearing the garments as part of the "We Are Trayvon" campaign.

More than 300,000 people have posted pictures of themselves wearing hoodies on Twitter, Facebook and other social media, according to Bloomberg News.

(Contributing: Associated Press)