Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was seen with her daughter, Isra Hirsi, during an anti-Israel protest at Columbia University on Thursday. A video shared on her Instagram and X accounts shows the lawmaker greeting Hirsi and meeting with her friends.
In her post to X, Omar expressed pride at seeing the anti-Israel encampment at the Ivy League university, claiming that the protests were joyful.
“I had the honor of seeing the Columbia University anti-war encampment firsthand. Contrary to right-wing attacks, these students are joyfully protesting for peace and an end to the genocide taking place in Gaza,” she wrote, adding, “I’m in awe of their bravery and courage.”
I had the honor of seeing the Columbia University anti-war encampment firsthand.
Contrary to right-wing attacks, these students are joyfully protesting for peace and an end to the genocide taking place in Gaza.
I’m in awe of their bravery and courage. pic.twitter.com/yC6hcBMwCP
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 25, 2024
Omar’s support of her daughter comes after she was arrested and also suspended from Barnard College for her participation in the encampment protest at Columbia.
Regardless of that, Omar has shown support for the protesters, going as far as to claim that the protests looked bad because they had been “co-opted.”
“Throughout history, protests were co-opted and made to look bad so police and public leaders would shut them down. That’s what we are seeing now at Columbia University. The Columbia protesters have made clear their demands and want their school not to be complacent in the ongoing Genocide in Gaza,” she wrote in a post to X last week.
“Public officials and media making this about anything else are inflaming the situation and need to bring calmness and sanity back,” she added.
Throughout history, protests were co-opted and made to look bad so police and public leaders would shut them down. That’s what we are seeing now at Columbia University. The Columbia protesters have made clear their demands and want their school not to be complacent in the ongoing…
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 22, 2024
In a post on April 17, she expressed solidarity for the protesters, saying, “Columbia has always had an incredible history of students fighting for a more just world and it’s good to see that tradition continue. As NYPD surrounds young activists, I hope their concerns are heard by school administrators and they not be criminalized. In solidarity.”
Columbia has always had an incredible history of students fighting for a more just world and it’s good to see that tradition continue. As NYPD surrounds young activists, I hope their concerns are heard by school administrators and they not be criminalized. In solidarity ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/UV8k3xltKT
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 17, 2024
Omar also condemned the arrest and suspension of the protesters in another post on April 22, writing, “On Thursday, Columbia arrested and suspended its students who were peacefully protesting and have now ignited a nationwide Gaza Solidarity movement. This is more than the students hoped for and I am glad to see this type of solidarity. But to be clear, this about the genocide in Gaza and the attention has to remain on that.”
On Thursday, Columbia arrested and suspended its students who were peacefully protesting and have now ignited a nationwide Gaza Solidarity movement. This is more than the students hoped for and I am glad to see this type of solidarity. But to be clear, this about the genocide in… https://t.co/ixc7ZqcPnk
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 22, 2024
