Minnesota Rep. The daughter of Ilhan Omar ( D) revealed that her presence in a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University resulted in her being suspended from school.
Isra Hirsi stated in a blog on X that she was an organizer for Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, a movement that demands that the school “divest from apartheid and genocide.” ”
Hirsi added that she was informed on Thursday that she is one of three Barnard College students who has been “suspended ” for standing with Palestinians who are facing a genocide. ”
“I’m an organizer with CU Apartheid Divest @ColumbiaSJP, in my 3 years at @BarnardCollege I have never been reprimanded or received any disciplinary warnings, ” Hirsi wrote.
I just learned that I am one of three students suspended for standing with Palestinians facing a murder, she continued.
I organize for the CU Apartheid Divest @ColumbiaSJP. During my three years at Barnard College, I have never been disciplined or given a punitive warning.
I just learned that one of three kids has been suspended because of my standing with Palestinians who are facing a murder.
— isra hirsi ( @israhirsi ) April 18, 2024
In a split article, Hirsi wrote, “Those of us in Gaza Solidarity Encampment will not be intimidated. We’ll remain unwavering until our expectations are satisfied. Our demands include complete amnesty for all students who face oppression, disclosure of @Columbia’s investments, and divestment from companies that are involved in genocide. ”
Hirsi’s suspension apparently comes in response to her involvement in a camp that many students participated in before police officers arrived to break it up.
According to video footage on social media, students set up tents on the south lawn of the university carrying signs that read, “Liberated Zone, ” “Gaza Solidarity Encampment, ” “Barnard Students Say: Divest Before Donations, ” and “Black lives 4 Palestine. ”
After being informed by Columbia University that kids had been asked to “break it up,” members from Barnard College entered the camp, which had not been completed.
One of the staff said,” We’re trying to see if there’s a way that any of you want to appear talk to us.” “We’re ok to work with you, if you’d like to do that. The official warned that Barnard might sanction students if they did not separate and adhere to what the college was directing them to do. ”
In a speech, Barnard College wrote:
As many of you are aware of, a group of Columbia and Barnard individuals reportedly set up an unauthorised camp on Columbia’s South Lawn in the early hours of April 17, 2024, with the intention of staying. We want to get in touch with you instantly about how the University and College responded to this unapproved camp.
Columbia repeatedly requested that students who participated in the illicit camp leave the ende before lunch on April 17. Additionally, several Barnard Senior Staff members went to the front of the camp to urge the individuals who were taking the camp to depart and to inform them that they would face punishment at Barnard if they did not.
At around 7 o’clock in the evening, members of the Barnard Senior Staff issued written instructions to camp individuals. m. on April 17. According to these written instructions, students who did not leave the camp by 9 p.m. may be subject to time suspensions. m. on April 17.
We started placing identified Barnard individuals in the camp on interim suspension this night, April 18, and we will continue to do so.
Since Hamas, a U. S. -designated Islamic terror party attacked Israel on October 7, leaving 1,200 Israelis dying and more than 200 people taken prisoner, anti-Israel rallies have increased.
Omar posted a statement on X, showing “solidarity ” with the students participating in the encampment.
It’s nice to see that custom persist in Columbia, which has always had an amazing history of learners fighting for a more just world, ” Omar wrote. “As NYPD surrounds fresh activists, I hope their fears are heard by school officials and they not been criminalized. In unity. ”
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