Additional Coverage:
**Ilhan Omar’s Daughter Suspended from Barnard College Amid Protests Over Gaza Conflict**
Isra Hirsi, the daughter of U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, has been suspended from Barnard College in New York City following her participation in a student-led protest over the Gaza conflict and the institution’s financial ties to Israel. Hirsi, alongside dozens of other students, took part in a campus encampment advocating for the college to divest from companies they believe support the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
The group’s demonstration, which involved camping out on the university campus, was disrupted when NYPD officers arrived to disband the encampment, leading to several arrests among the participants. This action came shortly after Congresswoman Omar confronted the president of Columbia University, which is affiliated with Barnard College, during a House of Representatives hearing that focused on antisemitism on college campuses. Omar questioned the targeting of pro-Palestinian protesters by the institution.
In response to the encampment, Barnard College had issued a warning to the participants, stating that failure to disperse by a certain deadline would result in suspension. Similarly, Columbia University has suspended students involved in the protest.
The students, including Hirsi, were demanding not only that the university divest from companies complicit in the violation of Palestinian rights but also sought greater transparency regarding the university’s investments and amnesty for those students facing repercussions for their protest actions.
Following the suspension, Congresswoman Omar voiced her support for her daughter and the other protesting students, highlighting the importance of standing in solidarity with the Palestinians.
In a statement, Barnard College emphasized its commitment to creating an inclusive environment that is free from harassment, indicating that the measures taken were in line with this ethos. Meanwhile, the university community remains divided over the issue, with ongoing debates about the balance between free speech and the institution’s policies against harassment and discrimination.
This incident has sparked broader conversations about activism on college campuses, the global politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how institutions are grappling with deeply divisive issues in an academic setting.