Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar became the first congresswoman to openly back the anti-Israel protests when she visited a Gaza encampment at the University of Minnesota on Tuesday.
“I have the proud honor of representing this incredible university in Congress, and I have to tell you that I am incredibly moved by your courage and bravery as a student body in putting your bodies on the line to stand in solidarity to end the genocide that is taking place in Gaza at this moment,” said Omar.
“I have to tell you, it’s been incredibly painful for the last five days to see the discovery while there is a discovery of a mass grave of more than 200 Palestinians in Khan Younis. That our media, our elected politicians, our president, every single leader is spending their time and energy in talking about the protests, as if you all are not here to give voice to the genocide that is taking place in Gaza,” said Omar.
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“What started out only five days ago with only 70 students, organizing themselves at Columbia University, has now led to a nationwide University movement,” said Omar.
Isra Hirsi, the daughter of congresswoman Ilhan Omar, was suspended last week from Barnard College, Columbia University, for her involvement in a protest over the Israel-Gaza war and the university’s investments in Israel.
This suspension came just one day after Congresswoman Omar grilled the university’s president about the targeting of pro-Palestinian protesters at a congressional hearing.
Isra Hirsi, a student at Barnard College, Columbia University, received a suspension for her participation in the encampment protest.
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In a social media post, she expressed her surprise at the suspension, stating that she had never been reprimanded or received any disciplinary warnings during her three years at Barnard College.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has been vocal in her support for the protesting students.
Videos posted on social media showed NYPD officers arresting some members of the encampment. The police moved in on Thursday morning to break up the protest last week, which have since grown.
Barnard College, in a statement, explained that it had sent written warnings to students participating in the encampment, stating that they would be suspended if they did not leave by a specified deadline. The college emphasized its commitment to providing an inclusive environment free from harassment and stated that it would continue to place identified Barnard students remaining in the encampment on interim suspension.
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