Isra Hirsi, the daughter of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was arrested on Thursday at anti-Israel protests held at Columbia University, as confirmed by law enforcement sources. Hirsi was taken into custody by the New York Police Department and was placed in flex cuffs or zip ties, facing charges of trespassing along with over 100 other individuals who were issued summonses for the same offense.
Following her arrest, Hirsi was later released from NYPD headquarters after spending several hours in custody. Earlier in the day, she revealed that she had been suspended from Barnard College, located near Columbia, for her participation in the protests in solidarity with Palestinians.
The protests at Columbia University, which began on Wednesday, saw dozens of anti-Israel activists setting up an encampment on the main lawn to protest Israel's actions against Hamas. The demonstrations escalated with calls for an intifada and controversial statements regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill, Rep. Ilhan Omar raised concerns about anti-Israel activism at Columbia University. She highlighted an incident involving what was initially described as a toxic chemical attack at an anti-Israel protest. However, it was later revealed through court documents that the substance in question was a non-toxic flatulence spray known as 'Liquid A--' and 'Wet Farts'.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., suggested that Isra Hirsi's suspension from Barnard College may have been a retaliatory action linked to her mother's inquiries during the congressional hearing. Hirsi, in her statements, emphasized the demands of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, including divestment from companies complicit in genocide, transparency of Columbia's investments, and amnesty for all students facing repression.
