Ilhan Omar Sparks Backlash Trying To Defend Columbia Anti-Israel Protesters

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) tried to speak for the anti-Israeli protesters causing unrest at Columbia University amid calls for more stringent action against the protesters. But she faced heavy backlash for her defense of the group, which includes her daughter, Isra Hirsi.

In a post to X on Monday, Omar tried to suggest that the protests only 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,” Omar wrote.

“Public officials and media making this about anything else are inflaming the situation and need to bring calmness and sanity back,” she added.

Omar’s attempt to whitewash the anti-semitic protests was met with heavy criticism, as many pointed out how the protesters were seen on camera chanting slogans that called for the genocide of the Jews and the destruction of Israel. Some were even seen yelling, “Death to America” while burning the American flag.

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) is one of the X users who pointed out to the Democratic lawmaker that her attempt to spin the anti-semitic displays won’t fly as there are videos.

“Ilhan, there’s video. Lots of it. These antisemites don’t need police & public leaders to make them look bad. They’re doing that all by themselves. Only demands should be: Hamas, surrender; Release the hostages,” he wrote.

https://x.com/ANTHONYDESPO/status/1782522309170925942

Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) also weighed in, writing, “These aren’t protests, they’re hate marches based on ignorance & TikTok clips. There is no genocide (unlike in China which NO ONE is protesting). There is a war in Gaza. And it was started by Hamas terrorists.”

“Nothing was co-opted here. These idiots were always fascists and antisemites (including her daughter). Nothing has changed since the evening of 10/7. The Columbia protester demands are irrelevant, because they are nonsense, and they should ignored. Kick them out,” Pradheep Shankar tweeted.

“It’s almost hilarious the extent to which the defenders of the antisemitic mobs at Columbia are completely reliant on pretending the numerous videos and the witness testimony from Jewish students simply don’t exist to preserve their narratives,” a user posted.

“You realize there is video, right? Inventing a conspiracy to blame the antisemitism and terror support of the protestors on police and others doesn’t work when everyone can see the truth…” the user wrote in a follow-up post.

Omar’s daughter was among the students who were arrested for their participation in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” in which protesters lay tents around parts of the Ivy League school’s campus, violating school rules. She was also suspended from the university’s partner school, Barnard College, according to a tweet she made last week.

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