Rep. Omar's Daughter Suspended From Barnard College For Pro-Palestine Protest

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-MN) daughter, Isra Hirsi, has been suspended from Barnard College, a women’s college associated with Columbia University, for participating in a pro-Palestinian protest.

Details: The demonstration was organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, where Hirsi serves as an organizer, and called for the university to sever ties with companies supporting Israel. By setting up an encampment on the university premises, the protestors violated university rules and received suspensions as a result. Over 100 people were arrested at the protest, and the NYPD was called to clear the encampment.

Key Quotes: In a post on social media, Hirsi stated, “in my 3 years at [Barnard College] i have never been reprimanded or received any disciplinary warnings i just received notice that i am 1 of 3 students suspended for standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing a genocide.” Omar stated on social media, “I am enormously proud of my daughter,” adding, “Stepping up to change what you can’t tolerate is why we as a country have the right to speech, assembly, and petition enshrined in our constitution.”

How the Media Covered It: In coverage from Fox News (Right bias) the demonstration was referred to as an “anti-Israeli protest.” Meanwhile, in HuffPost (Left bias), it was referred to as a “pro-Palestine protest.” Fox News framed coverage around Omar’s statement of support for Hirsi. The Hill (Center bias) noted that Columbia’s president was questioned recently by the Education and Workforce Committee regarding a rise in antisemitism on campus. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.