A day after hosting House Speaker Mike Johnson, Columbia University was visited by another member of Congress, only this one wasn’t there to denounce antisemitism or tell student protesters to stop.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota Democrat, was spotted mingling, laughing and taking selfies Thursday with the students hunkered down at the unauthorized “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” that covers the university’s West Lawn.
“I had the honor of seeing the Columbia University anti-war encampment firsthand,” Ms. Omar said Thursday on X. “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.”
She was accompanied by her 21-year-old daughter Irsa Hirsi a Barnard College student who was arrested and suspended last week for participating in an unsanctioned protest. The college provided Ms. Hirsi “escorted access” during her mother’s visit, but she remains on interim suspension, a spokesperson told The Washington Times.
The congresswoman’s appearance came in sharp contrast to Wednesday’s press conference by the House Republican delegation led by Mr. Johnson, who called for Columbia President Minouche Shafik’s resignation and for students to get back to class.
Sitting member of the U.S. Congress joins the illegal encampment protest at Columbia.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 25, 2024
Somali-born Rep. Ilhan Omar has joined students occupying the campus alongside her daughter Isra Hisri, who was suspended from the university on April 18th.
Omar has been granted access to… pic.twitter.com/9ecP0FR5vR
SEE ALSO: NYPD, AOC cross swords over Columbia protester arrests
Two days earlier, Ms. Omar spoke to anti-Israel student protesters at the University of Minnesota, telling them she was “moved by their bravery and courage.” Nine were arrested as the police cleared the encampment.
“What started out five days ago with only 70 students organizing themselves at Columbia University has now led to a nationwide university movement,” she said on the Minneapolis campus.
Shai Davidai, assistant professor at Columbia Business School, called Ms. Omar’s show of support for the Columbia protesters a “new low for the U.S. Congress.”
“Congresswoman Ilhan Omar visits her daughter in the illegal pro-Hamas encampment at @Columbia, and does so using taxpayers’ money,” said Mr. Davidai on X. “Now you know why Shafik is negotiating with those openly celebrate Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.”
Ms. Shafik sent a team of faculty, administrators and students to negotiate with the student protesters to end the encampment. The university has given them a Friday deadline.
Mr. Johnson and other House Republicans called for Ms. Shafik to resign, but the Columbia University Board of Trustees issued afterward a statement of support for the president, who assumed the top job in July.
“The Columbia University Board of Trustees strongly supports President Shafik as she steers the university through this extraordinarily challenging time,” said the board’s statement.
“During the search process for this role, President Shafik told us that she would always take a thoughtful approach to resolving conflict, balancing the disparate voices that make up a vibrant campus like Columbia’s while taking a firm stance against hatred, harassment, and discrimination,” the statement said. “That’s exactly what she’s doing now.”
The Columbia protest drew national attention last week when police arrested more than 100 demonstrators on trespassing charges, but other universities are seeing arrests as the pro-Palestinian encampments spread.
The University of Southern California announced Thursday that its main-stage May 10 commencement ceremony would be canceled after Los Angeles police arrested 90 protesters on trespassing charges.
At Emerson College in Boston, more than 100 protesters were arrested Wednesday night for erecting an encampment at Boylston Place Alley. At the University of Texas at Austin, police arrested nearly 60 students for setting up tents on the South Lawn.
“These protesters belong in jail,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on X. “Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.”
The Secure Network Community said Thursday that there are 33 North American universities where “significant protests have taken place or remain active.”
• This article is based in part on wire reports.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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