Rep. Ilhan Omar is compared to 9/11 terrorists at a West VA GOP event
Poster of the congresswoman says “I am the proof you have forgotten”
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar found herself on an offensive, anti-Muslim poster display at the West Virginia GOP’s “Republicans Take the Rotunda” event on Friday, seeking to equate her with the 9/11 terrorists.
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar found herself on an offensive, anti-Muslim poster display at the West Virginia GOP’s “Republicans Take the Rotunda” event on Friday, seeking to equate her with the 9/11 terrorists.
One of the poster displays featured a caption that read, “Never forget – you said” over a picture of the World Trade Center explosion and another one included a picture of Omar in the House of Representatives with the caption, “I am the proof you have forgotten.”
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The poster reportedly came from ACT for America, the anti-Muslim hate group. According to NPR, responses to the poster from Republicans have ranged from condemnation to comments of upholding the First Amendment.
As if this wasn’t insane enough, several lawmakers got into an argument with the Republican sergeant at arms, Anne Lieberman, after she allegedly said “all Muslims are terrorists,” according to GQ Magazine. Lieberman resigned late Friday.
Omar responded on Twitter saying, “No wonder why I am on the ‘Hitlist’ of a domestic terrorist and ‘Assassinate Ilhan Omar’ is written on my local gas stations,” which refers to a right-wing domestic terrorism plot that was uncovered last month.
No wonder why I am on the “Hitlist” of a domestic terrorist and “Assassinate Ilhan Omar” is written on my local gas stations.
Look no further, the GOP's anti-Muslim display likening me to a terrorist rocks in state capitols and no one is condemning them! https://t.co/0ouCaloWqh
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 1, 2019
On the other side of the aisle, and also on Friday, Democrat Rep. Eliot L. Engel of New York called Omar anti-Semitic because she continues to critique pro-Israel lobbying groups. During a town hall meeting, Omar addressed the power of lobbying groups like AIPAC.
“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country,” Omar said.
Read More: US marks 9/11 with somber tributes, new monument to victims
Engel, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, retorted in a statement, “Her comments were outrageous and deeply hurtful, and I ask that she retract them, apologize, and commit to making her case on policy issues without resorting to attacks that have no place in the Foreign Affairs Committee or the House of Representatives.”
It’s worth noting that last year, Engel received over $150,000 in campaign contributions from pro-Israel groups, according to GQ Magazine.
