TL/DR –
Ilhan Omar, the U.S. Representative for Minnesota, was attacked at a town hall meeting in Minneapolis while calling for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The assailant, an unnamed man, sprayed her with an unknown substance and was subsequently arrested on third-degree assault charges. Despite previous controversies due to her political stances, including opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza, Omar remains a vocal advocate for immigration reform and continues to serve as a representative for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
US Representative Ilhan Omar Attacked at Public Event
DEVELOPING STORY: Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance in an attack by an unknown individual, who was immediately apprehended.
US Representative for Minnesota, Ilhan Omar was attacked at a public event in Minneapolis. During the town hall meeting, while calling for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, an assailant sprayed an unknown substance on Omar.
Despite the brief attack, Omar wasn’t injured. The man responsible was promptly arrested for third-degree assault.
The video captured by C-SPAN shows the attacker rushing Omar’s podium, and shouting, “You must resign”. He was quickly subdued by security personnel. Omar reassured her supporters that she was unharmed, though suggested that the substance had an unpleasant smell.
“We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us,” Omar said, resuming calls for the resignation of Department of Homeland Security’s Secretary, Kristi Noem. Omar reinforced her resilience in a post-event statement on Twitter, “I’m OK. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me…Minnesota strong.”
The attack on Omar, a Somali American and highly vocal opponent of the ICE agency, received immediate condemnation online. Minneapolis’s Mayor Jacob Frey stated, “Unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk.” South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace echoed this sentiment, “No elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”
Omar, a proponent for strong stances on immigration reform, continues to face opposition from US conservatives for her critical views on Israel and ICE actions. Recently, her opposition to Operation Metro Surge, an ICE crackdown on undocumented immigrants in Minneapolis, has caused tension.
Last month, President Donald Trump criticized Omar, calling her “garbage” and vowing to investigate her finances, alleging a corruption scandal within the Somali-American community. Despite these criticisms, Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US Congress, remains a vocal progressive figurehead, serving a third term as representative for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
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