Ilhan Omar excuses Columbia anti-Israel unrest but branded Jan 6 protesters 'violent mob'

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said nan Gaza cease-fire encampments astatine Columbia University are being "co-opted and made to look bad" – but would not reply questions connected whether she would opportunity nan aforesaid astir nan Jan. 6, 2021, riot astatine nan U.S. Capitol.

"Throughout history, protests were co-opted and made to look bad truthful constabulary and nationalist leaders would unopen them down. That’s what we are seeing now astatine Columbia University," Omar wrote connected X earlier this week.

"The Columbia protesters person made clear their demands and want their schoolhouse not to beryllium complacent successful nan ongoing Genocide successful Gaza. Public officials and media making this astir thing other are inflaming nan business and request to bring calmness and sanity back."

IRANIAN-AMERICAN LAWYER PREDICTS PROTESTERS WANT NEW WORLD WAR

Rep. Ilhan Omar claimed nan Columbia University protests had been "co-opted." (Getty Images)

Social media videos from nan anti-Israel shelter encampment that’s been staged for days connected Columbia’s field show activists cheering connected nan deaths of Israeli soldiers and showing support for Hamas. Jewish students person reported emotion unsafe connected field and shared stories of being verbally and physically assaulted.

"They were pushing and shoving me… They threw rocks astatine my face. At that moment, my life was wholly threatened. And location was nary information authority connected campus," 1 student told NY1 complete nan weekend.

Fox News Digital made aggregate attempts to scope Omar’s agency to inquire whether she would opportunity nan events of Jan. 6, 2021, during which she has antecedently said she feared for her life from nan "violent mob," could person likewise been co-opted by bad actors. Fox News Digital besides asked Omar to explicate if she felt differently.

AOC CALLS COLUMBIA PROTESTS 'PEACEFUL', DESPITE RABBI WARNING JEWISH STUDENTS TO STAY HOME

Anti-Israel agitators rally extracurricular Columbia University connected April 23, 2024, successful New York City. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

None of nan messages sent to Omar’s agency astir nan matter were returned.

In an question and reply pinch The Guardian successful precocious January 2021, Omar said she "didn’t cognize if [she] would make it retired that day" and that she phoned her ex-husband erstwhile nan Jan. 6 onslaught began pinch "a petition to him to make judge he would proceed to show my children that I loved them if I didn’t make it out."

The Minnesota progressive’s daughter, who attends Columbia’s sister school Barnard College, was 1 of dozens of protesters arrested earlier this week for refusing to time off nan unauthorized encampment, though she is not accused of engagement successful immoderate convulsive clashes.

COLUMBIA JEWISH STUDENTS 'NO LONGER FEEL SAFE,' SAY ANTI-ISRAEL MOB CHASED THEM OFF CAMPUS

Rioters loyal to President Trump rally astatine nan U.S. Capitol successful Washington connected Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

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Omar’s chap members of nan House’s left-wing "Squad" besides leaped to nan students’ defense early this week.

"I condemn immoderate imaginable constabulary action connected Columbia University's campus. As an pedagogue who personally knowledgeable nan complete policing of our schools, this is individual to me," Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., wrote connected X precocious Tuesday. "We must defy right-wing demagoguery and extremity suppressing serene protestation if we are to support students safe."