Ilhan Omar's daughter says she was suspended from college after pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia

NEW YORK — Rep. Ilhan Omar's girl says she was 1 of 3 students suspended from Barnard College pursuing a pro-Palestinian protestation astatine Columbia University connected Thursday.

Isra Hirsi wrote connected X that she is an organizer pinch Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which is advocating for nan assemblage to divest from "companies complicit successful genocide." 

"I conscionable received announcement that I americium 1 of 3 students suspended for opinionated successful solidarity pinch Palestinians facing a genocide," she wrote connected Thursday morning.

Hirsi, a junior, said she had ne'er antecedently been reprimanded aliases received immoderate disciplinary warnings from Barnard during her clip astatine nan school.

Isra Hirsi attends nan Teen Vogue Summit & Block Party astatine Goya Studios connected December 04, 2021 successful Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

Police made arrests connected Thursday astatine nan makeshift encampment group up connected nan university's quad. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik asked New York constabulary in a letter to thief region nan crowd, accusing nan astir 100 protesters of interfering pinch assemblage operations, failing to comply pinch policies, and causing harm to field property.

Demonstrations started connected Wednesday as Shafik testified earlier Congress, wherever she was accused of failing to subject students for antisemitic rhetoric. She said nan authorities of Jewish students to study successful an situation free of favoritism has been a cardinal rumor astatine nan schoolhouse since nan Hamas onslaught connected Israel connected Oct. 7.

RELATED: Columbia University suspends student groups Students for Justice successful Palestine & Jewish Voice for Peace for allegedly violating schoolhouse policies

Administrators locked down field connected Wednesday amid dueling protests betwixt pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups. A mini group of pro-Palestinian activists remained overnight contempt warnings to time off by 9 p.m., though astir were not believed to beryllium students. One personification was arrested connected Wednesday, constabulary said, pinch arrests continuing connected Thursday. It was not instantly clear really galore group were arrested connected Thursday, according to CBS New York.

In a memo, Barnard College Senior Staff wrote that nan students remaining astatine nan encampment were placed connected interim suspension. 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Students and pro-Palestinian activists stitchery extracurricular of Columbia University to protestation nan university's stance connected Israel connected April 18, 2024 successful New York City. The protests travel aft galore students were arrested earlier successful nan time aft mounting up tents connected nan assemblage section successful support of Gaza. Getty Images

"Now and always, we prioritize our students' learning and surviving successful an inclusive situation free from harassment," the memo states. "Given nan evolving circumstances astatine Columbia and successful nan area, we are moving to guarantee nan information and well-being of nan full Barnard community."

"Those of america successful Gaza Solidarity Encampment will not beryllium intimidated. We will guidelines resolute until our demands are met," Hirsi said connected X.

The Minneapolis South postgraduate was a leading sound successful Twin Cities ambiance protests during her clip successful precocious school; she worked arsenic a co-founder and co-executive of nan U.S. Youth Climate Strike, helping coordinate rallies crossed 2,000 cities successful March of 2019.

Omar, who represents Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, wrote connected X that nan assemblage has "an unthinkable history of students fighting for amore conscionable world and it's bully to spot that contented continue."

Omar said she stood successful solidarity pinch nan students, and hoped nan schoolhouse administrators would not criminalize them.

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