Rep. Ilhan Omar's daughter, Isra Hirsi, has found herself in a challenging situation after being suspended from Barnard College following her participation in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. Hirsi, along with over 100 others, was arrested for trespassing during the protests at Columbia University.
As a result of her suspension, the 21-year-old has been evicted from campus housing, banned from using the dining hall with her meal plan, and unable to attend classes. She expressed concerns about where she would sleep and the uncertainty of her situation.
Despite reaching out to campus administration, Hirsi did not receive a response until 48 hours after her suspension, when she was informed she could pick up a prepackaged bag of food. Barnard College, one of Columbia's undergraduate schools with its own structure and administration, has not commented on the situation.
The protests at Columbia University involved anti-Israel activists setting up an encampment to protest Israel's actions against Hamas. Calls for an intifada and the death of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were made during the protests.
Rep. Ilhan Omar supported her daughter's involvement in the protests and had previously raised concerns about anti-Israel activism at Columbia University during a congressional hearing. Omar alleged an 'attack' with a 'toxic chemical substance' at the protest, which was later revealed to be a non-toxic flatulence spray.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman suggested that Hirsi's suspension may be a form of reprisal for her mother's questioning of Columbia's commitment to academic freedom. He criticized educational institutions for engaging in political reprisals.
