NEW YORK — Following a pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University on Thursday, Rep. Ilhan Omar's daughter, Isra Hirsi, revealed that she was one of three students suspended from Barnard College.
Isra Hirsi, an organizer with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which is pushing for the university to divest from "companies complicit in genocide," shared on X that she received notice of her suspension for standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing a genocide.
Expressing her shock, Hirsi, a junior, mentioned that she had a clean record at Barnard until this incident.
Amid the protest, police intervened and made arrests at the makeshift encampment on the university's quad. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik reached out to the New York police in a letter, requesting assistance in dispersing the crowd. Shafik accused the approximately 100 protesters of disrupting university operations, violating policies, and causing damage to campus property.
Demonstrations commenced on Wednesday as Shafik appeared before Congress, facing allegations of not taking action against students for antisemitic remarks. She emphasized that ensuring Jewish students' right to education in a discrimination-free environment has been a key concern at the school following the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
The campus was placed on lockdown on Wednesday due to conflicting protests between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups. Despite warnings to disperse by 9 p.m., a small group of pro-Palestinian activists remained overnight, with most not believed to be students. One individual was arrested on Wednesday, with further arrests occurring on Thursday. The exact number of Thursday's arrests was not immediately disclosed, CBS New York reported.
In a memorandum, Barnard College Senior Staff announced that students still present at the encampment were placed on interim suspension.
"We always prioritize our students' ability to learn and reside in an inclusive, harassment-free environment," the memorandum stated. "Given the changing circumstances at Columbia and in the vicinity, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the entire Barnard community."
"We, the members of Gaza Solidarity Encampment, will not be swayed. We will stand firm until our demands are addressed," Hirsi declared on X.
The Minneapolis South graduate was a leading voice in Twin Cities climate protests during her time in high school; she worked as a co-founder and co-executive of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike, helping coordinate rallies across 2,000 cities in March of 2019.
Omar, who represents Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, wrote on X that the university has "an incredible history of students fighting for amore just world and it's good to see that tradition continue."
Omar said she stood in solidarity with the students, and hoped the school administrators would not criminalize them.
