Squad members slam Columbia University following suspension of Omar's daughter
Omar’s daughter Isra Hirsi posted that she was among the Columbia students who had been suspended over a makeshift encampment and protest, despite not having any prior disciplinary warnings or record.
Two members of the far-left "Squad" have slammed Columbia University for suspending the daughter of Democratic Michigan Rep. Ilhan Omar over her participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
Omar's daughter, Isra Hirsi, posted that she was among the Columbia students who had been suspended over a makeshift encampment and protest on Thursday morning, despite not having any prior disciplinary warnings or record. She was also one of more than 100 students arrested in connection with the protest.
The crackdown came a day after Omar grilled Columbia University President Nemat Shafik about free speech and academic expression during a congressional hearing.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, slammed the suspension in a post to X.
“How does a student with no disciplinary record suddenly get to a suspension less than 24 hours after a nonviolent protest? What merits asymmetric crackdowns on Palestinian human rights protests,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote while also sharing Hirsi's post.
Hirsi claimed at the time that she was one of three students that had been suspended, but Columbia University later clarified that it was still identifying participants in the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment."
The arrests and suspensions also come two days after the University of Southern California canceled its pro-Palestinian valedictorian's speech, citing of potential security risks due to her viral social media activity criticizing Zionism.
“From UM to Vanderbilt to USC to Columbia, students across our country are being retaliated against for using their constitutional rights to protest genocide,” Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib posted to X. “It’s appalling.”