Ilhan Omar’s daughter suspended from Barnard College due to involvement in anti-Israel protests

Isra Hirsi, Rep. Ilhan Omar‘s (D-MN) daughter, said she was one of the students suspended from Barnard College for participation in anti-Israel protests.

Hirsi, 21, posted on X that she was one of three students who were suspended for “standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing a genocide” from the private women’s college affiliated with Columbia University. The protests involved an encampment on the university campus, which officials said violated a bevy of campus policies.

those of us in Gaza Solidarity Encampment will not be intimidated. we will stand resolute until our demands are met.

our demands include divestment from companies complicit in genocide, transparency of @Columbia’s investments and FULL amnesty for all students facing repression

— isra hirsi (@israhirsi) April 18, 2024

“i just received notice that i am 1 of 3 students suspended for standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing a genocide,” Hirsi said. “those of us in Gaza Solidarity Encampment will not be intimidated. we will stand resolute until our demands are met. our demands include divestment from companies complicit in genocide, transparency of @Columbia’s investments and FULL amnesty for all students facing repression.”

Omar has not commented on the suspension but showed support for protesters at the university’s campus on Wednesday, posting on X that she was “in solidarity” with the demonstrators.

Columbia has always had an incredible history of students fighting for a more just world and it’s good to see that tradition continue. As NYPD surrounds young activists, I hope their concerns are heard by school administrators and they not be criminalized. In solidarity ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/UV8k3xltKT

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 17, 2024

“Columbia has always had an incredible history of students fighting for a more just world and it’s good to see that tradition continue. As NYPD surrounds young activists, I hope their concerns are heard by school administrators and they not be criminalized. In solidarity [raised fist emoji],” Omar posted.

Barnard College told the Washington Examiner it “does not provide information about confidential student conduct proceedings,” but it did point to an update to community members, which said some students who participated in an unauthorized encampment on Columbia University’s South Lawn who did not leave after being told to do so were given “interim suspensions.”

“Now and always, we prioritize our students’ learning and living in an inclusive environment free from harassment. Given the evolving circumstances at Columbia and in the area, we are working to ensure the safety and well-being of the entire Barnard community. We have temporarily restricted access to certain outdoor spaces on our campus,” the community update said.

Some students from Barnard College and Columbia University set up an encampment on the university’s Morningside Campus in protest of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on Wednesday, the same day Columbia President Minouche Shafik testified before Congress on antisemitism.

Protesting students were cleared by the New York City Police Department on Thursday after Shafik gave authorization, she confirmed in a message to the university community.

“I took this extraordinary step because these are extraordinary circumstances. The individuals who established the encampment violated a long list of rules and policies. Through direct conversations and in writing, the university provided multiple notices of these violations, including a written warning at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday notifying students who remained in the encampment as of 9:00 p.m. that they would face suspension pending investigation. We also tried through a number of channels to engage with their concerns and offered to continue discussions if they agreed to disperse,” Shafik said in the message.

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“I regret that all of these attempts to resolve the situation were rejected by the students involved. As a result, NYPD officers are now on campus and the process of clearing the encampment is underway,” she added.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Omar’s office for comment.