Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) attempted to run defense for the anti-Israel protesters — a group that includes her daughter, Barnard student Isra Hirsi — and got hit with an immediate wave of backlash.
Omar, whose daughter was among the students who were suspended and detained for their participation in anti-semitic protests on Columbia University’s campus, defended the protests in an X post, claiming that the protests had been “co-opted” and that was the real reason they looked bad.
“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,” Omar said. “The Columbia protesters have made clear their demands and want their school not to be complacent in the ongoing Genocide in Gaza. Public officials and media making this about anything else are inflaming the situation and need to bring calmness and sanity back.”
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
Omar’s efforts to spin the anti-semitic protests were quickly met with rebuttals from critics, many of whom pointed out the fact that protesters were on camera shouting and chanting slogans that called for the genocide of the Jews and the destruction of Israel.
“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 …” AG (@aghamilton29) posted, adding, “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.”
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… https://t.co/0F3KxVUWKc
— AG (@AGHamilton29) April 22, 2024
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) added, “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.”
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. https://t.co/o6QUnNpFPZ— Anthony P. D’Esposito (@ANTHONYDESPO) April 22, 2024
Referencing Columbia’s move to remote learning on Monday due to the increased tensions on campus, Erielle Azerrad pointed out: “Jews are studying remotely because of Omar’s daughter.”
Jews are studying remotely because of Omar’s daughter. https://t.co/Z1wgdsOT4t
— Erielle Azerrad (@politicalelle) April 22, 2024
“Nothing was co-opted here,” Pradheep Shankar said. “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.”
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. https://t.co/j1cBe7DCM8
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D. (@neoavatara) April 22, 2024
