Social media erupts after Dem senator compares 'political stunt' to civil rights leader: 'Woke insult'

Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse faced immediate blowback on Thursday in response to a social media post where he compared his Democratic colleague's outburst at a press conference to the work of Civil Rights pioneer and late Congressman John Lewis. 

Shortly after Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed and handcuffed during a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles amid anti-ICE rioting, Sen. Whitehouse posted a photo of the incident alongside a historic photo of Lewis being confronted by police officers after being attacked by a mob at a South Carolina bus station. 

Lewis was arrested over 40 times during the Civil Rights Movement and was a major figure during many prominent...