Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Democrat from Michigan known for her controversial remarks about America and Israel, recently referred to some Jewish students at Columbia as being “pro-genocide” when she visited the school. That comment, among others, led to Nebraska’s Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican, introducing a censure resolution against her on Tuesday, May 7.
For reference, Rep. Omar said, speaking about the Columbia situation, “I actually met a lot of Jewish students who are in the encampment, and I think it is really unfortunate that people don’t care about the fact that all Jewish kids should be kept safe.” She added, “We should not have to tolerate antisemitism or bigotry for all Jewish students, whether they are pro-genocide or anti-genocide.”
Rep. Bacon then apparently saw the opportunity to hit her with a censure, so he filed, on Tuesday, a resolution that, if passed, would censure the “Squad” member. The filing lists numerous instances of Rep. Omar making controversial comments, such as her recent one about some students being “pro-genocide,” and then provides that, if passed, the resolution would censure her for her comments.
Bacon, speaking to reporters, the week before introducing the resolution, said, “To generalize, to say that the Jewish students are responsible for this and treat them that way, that is antisemitism, right? It’s one thing to protest Israel, but to stretch it over and accost Jewish students is wrong.”
He added, “I’m working on a bill right now to call out Omar for what she said. She’s talking about pro-genocide or anti-genocide Jewish students…all this talk is all wrong because Jewish Americans are Americans. Quit treating them that way.”
Speaking to Axios that same week about Bacon’s comments on her comments, a spokesperson for Rep. Omar said, “Attempts to misconstrue her words by drafting this baseless resolution are meant to distract from the ongoing violence and genocide occurring in Gaza and the large antiwar protests happening across our country and around the world.”
The resolution and comments surrounding it were not Rep. Bacon’s only time getting involved in the chaotic campus protests. He also issued a statement on them on May 2, saying, “Our founding fathers believed the freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble was so paramount to our freedoms, that it was included in the First Amendment. Sadly, what is being ‘exercised’ across campuses in our nation is the complete opposite and is quite frankly, illegal.”
Continuing, his statement on the protests even called on the FBI to get involved, saying, “Jewish American students are being harassed and subjected to racist remarks, restricted from certain areas on campuses, forced to attend classes online, and many other intolerable acts. This is unacceptable and insane. President Biden needs to take the lead and have the FBI enforce Title XI for the safety of our Jewish American citizens. Furthermore, if students or faculty are found participating in these actions and are on visas, they should be immediately expelled from our country.”
Watch Rep. Omar’s “pro-genocide” comment here:
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