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Minnesota Democratic Congressional Candidate Ilhan Omar speaks at an election night results party on November 6, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Omar won the race for Minnesota's 5th congressional district seat against Republican candidate Jennifer Zielinski to become one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress.
(Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
#IStandWithIlhan: Supporters Reject Smear Campaign After Newly-Elected Omar Declares Support of BDS
"The rising support for #BDS has finally reached Congress"
Nov 15, 2018
Free speech and human rights supporters are rallying behind Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar after a pro-Israeli government group attacked the representative-elect for announcing her support of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.
Omar--who along with Democrat Rashida Tlaib of Michigan became the first Muslim women elected to Congress--expressed her support for the movement to several websites this week prompting many to declare also #IStandWithIlhan on social media.
That's not the outcome likely hoped for by the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The group, which states that is mission is to "stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all" but is accused of promoting Islamophobia, said the support was "alarming." It said in its tweet that "BDS doesn't just criticize Israel's gov., it denies its right to exist as a Jewish State."
That claim is not true, as journalist Mehdi Hansan responded:
\u201cThis is a lie. "The BDS movement... steers away from the one-state-versus-two-states debate, focusing instead on universal rights and international law". Most member orgs "still advocate a two-state solution outside the realm of the BDS movement" - BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti\u201d— Mehdi Hasan (@Mehdi Hasan) 1542261111
Rebecca Vilkomerson, the executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, shot back at the ADL's tweet as well, calling it an "irresponsible use of @ADL_National's status as a civil rights org.," and praised Omar for being the first member of Congress to declare her support for BDS.
\u201cThis is irresponsible use of @ADL_National\u2019s status as a civil rights org. @IlhanMN supports human rights of Palestinians by supporting the nonviolent #BDS movement, an increasingly popular position in the Democratic base. It\u2019s completely legit, so the ADL better get used to it!\u201d— Rebecca Vilkomerson (@Rebecca Vilkomerson) 1542285341
\u201cThe rising support for #BDS has finally reached Congress and we\u2019re so grateful to @IlhanMN for being the first to proudly support the movement for Palestinian rights and freedom!\u201d— Rebecca Vilkomerson (@Rebecca Vilkomerson) 1542316269
Jewish Voice for Peace also applauded Omar for "helping usher in a new era when standing for justice and equality for all in Israel/Palestine--and thus for Palestinian rights and freedom--will be the norm and not exception."
\u201c#IStandWithIlhan because she's helping usher in a new era when standing for justice and equality for all in Israel/Palestine \u2013 and thus for Palestinian rights and freedom \u2013 will be the norm and not exception. (Many thanks to @Watan for original art) \u2764\ufe0f @IlhanMN\u201d— Jewish Voice for Peace (@Jewish Voice for Peace) 1542317078
For her part, Tlaib, whose family is from Palestine, offered her support for her fellow freshly-elected representative, and urged others to speak out in support of "protected freedom of speech."
\u201cMy parents were both born in Palestine (Falastine). My sity still lives there. So when my sister @IlhanMN is being attacked for supporting the #BDS movement (protected freedom of speech!) we can't stay silent. Nothing is more American than the fight for justice at home & abroad.\u201d— Rashida Tlaib (@Rashida Tlaib) 1542386266
Other individuals and groups joined the hashtag #IStandWithIlhan, including anti-Israeli- occupation group IfNotNow, which pointed to a letter of support to let Omar know: "We stand with you in the face of Islamophobic organizations attempting to attack you and undermine your leadership."
\u201c#IStandWithIlhan because Criticizing #Netanyahu and his far-right government's policies is protected free speech, not anti-Semitism. @ilhanmn\u201d— Noura Erakat (@Noura Erakat) 1542314594
\u201cAs public opinion in the US (including the Jewish community) shifts away from uncritical support of Israeli occupation, our elected leaders can & should shift with us. @IlhanMN is supporting not only the human rights of Palestinians, but free speech on Israel #IStandWithIlhan\u201d— Rebecca Pierce #SaveSilwan (@Rebecca Pierce #SaveSilwan) 1542320567
\u201cWe stand with @IlhanMN from here in Florida. Ilhan believes and fights for the freedom, safety, and rights of oppressed people here and around the world. Leaders like her are more important than ever. We support Ilhan and we support #BDS. #IStandWithIlhan \ud83c\udfa8 by @watanstudio\u201d— Dream Defenders (@Dream Defenders) 1542317287
\u201cCongresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar boldly supports BDS and justice for the Palestinian people. Now she\u2019s under attack from the ADL, a Zionist organization with a long history of advancing Islamophobia, supporting apartheid, and undermining social justice movements. #IStandWithIlhan\u201d— #DefendMasaferYatta USCPR (@#DefendMasaferYatta USCPR) 1542392658
\u201cJoin human rights activists across the country who are sharing why #IStandWithIlhan\u2014so we can work together towards for freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people in a world without racism and oppression.\u201d— #DefendMasaferYatta USCPR (@#DefendMasaferYatta USCPR) 1542392658
\u201c.@IlhanMN is a champion of many progressive causes, including Americans\u2019 rights to protest using BDS. We support Ilhan in her fight to ensure those rights are not abridged. #IStandWithIlhan \n\nCheck out and sign @MPower_Change's letter of support here:\nhttps://t.co/092Wrwpds3\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1542395135
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Free speech and human rights supporters are rallying behind Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar after a pro-Israeli government group attacked the representative-elect for announcing her support of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.
Omar--who along with Democrat Rashida Tlaib of Michigan became the first Muslim women elected to Congress--expressed her support for the movement to several websites this week prompting many to declare also #IStandWithIlhan on social media.
That's not the outcome likely hoped for by the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The group, which states that is mission is to "stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all" but is accused of promoting Islamophobia, said the support was "alarming." It said in its tweet that "BDS doesn't just criticize Israel's gov., it denies its right to exist as a Jewish State."
That claim is not true, as journalist Mehdi Hansan responded:
\u201cThis is a lie. "The BDS movement... steers away from the one-state-versus-two-states debate, focusing instead on universal rights and international law". Most member orgs "still advocate a two-state solution outside the realm of the BDS movement" - BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti\u201d— Mehdi Hasan (@Mehdi Hasan) 1542261111
Rebecca Vilkomerson, the executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, shot back at the ADL's tweet as well, calling it an "irresponsible use of @ADL_National's status as a civil rights org.," and praised Omar for being the first member of Congress to declare her support for BDS.
\u201cThis is irresponsible use of @ADL_National\u2019s status as a civil rights org. @IlhanMN supports human rights of Palestinians by supporting the nonviolent #BDS movement, an increasingly popular position in the Democratic base. It\u2019s completely legit, so the ADL better get used to it!\u201d— Rebecca Vilkomerson (@Rebecca Vilkomerson) 1542285341
\u201cThe rising support for #BDS has finally reached Congress and we\u2019re so grateful to @IlhanMN for being the first to proudly support the movement for Palestinian rights and freedom!\u201d— Rebecca Vilkomerson (@Rebecca Vilkomerson) 1542316269
Jewish Voice for Peace also applauded Omar for "helping usher in a new era when standing for justice and equality for all in Israel/Palestine--and thus for Palestinian rights and freedom--will be the norm and not exception."
\u201c#IStandWithIlhan because she's helping usher in a new era when standing for justice and equality for all in Israel/Palestine \u2013 and thus for Palestinian rights and freedom \u2013 will be the norm and not exception. (Many thanks to @Watan for original art) \u2764\ufe0f @IlhanMN\u201d— Jewish Voice for Peace (@Jewish Voice for Peace) 1542317078
For her part, Tlaib, whose family is from Palestine, offered her support for her fellow freshly-elected representative, and urged others to speak out in support of "protected freedom of speech."
\u201cMy parents were both born in Palestine (Falastine). My sity still lives there. So when my sister @IlhanMN is being attacked for supporting the #BDS movement (protected freedom of speech!) we can't stay silent. Nothing is more American than the fight for justice at home & abroad.\u201d— Rashida Tlaib (@Rashida Tlaib) 1542386266
Other individuals and groups joined the hashtag #IStandWithIlhan, including anti-Israeli- occupation group IfNotNow, which pointed to a letter of support to let Omar know: "We stand with you in the face of Islamophobic organizations attempting to attack you and undermine your leadership."
\u201c#IStandWithIlhan because Criticizing #Netanyahu and his far-right government's policies is protected free speech, not anti-Semitism. @ilhanmn\u201d— Noura Erakat (@Noura Erakat) 1542314594
\u201cAs public opinion in the US (including the Jewish community) shifts away from uncritical support of Israeli occupation, our elected leaders can & should shift with us. @IlhanMN is supporting not only the human rights of Palestinians, but free speech on Israel #IStandWithIlhan\u201d— Rebecca Pierce #SaveSilwan (@Rebecca Pierce #SaveSilwan) 1542320567
\u201cWe stand with @IlhanMN from here in Florida. Ilhan believes and fights for the freedom, safety, and rights of oppressed people here and around the world. Leaders like her are more important than ever. We support Ilhan and we support #BDS. #IStandWithIlhan \ud83c\udfa8 by @watanstudio\u201d— Dream Defenders (@Dream Defenders) 1542317287
\u201cCongresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar boldly supports BDS and justice for the Palestinian people. Now she\u2019s under attack from the ADL, a Zionist organization with a long history of advancing Islamophobia, supporting apartheid, and undermining social justice movements. #IStandWithIlhan\u201d— #DefendMasaferYatta USCPR (@#DefendMasaferYatta USCPR) 1542392658
\u201cJoin human rights activists across the country who are sharing why #IStandWithIlhan\u2014so we can work together towards for freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people in a world without racism and oppression.\u201d— #DefendMasaferYatta USCPR (@#DefendMasaferYatta USCPR) 1542392658
\u201c.@IlhanMN is a champion of many progressive causes, including Americans\u2019 rights to protest using BDS. We support Ilhan in her fight to ensure those rights are not abridged. #IStandWithIlhan \n\nCheck out and sign @MPower_Change's letter of support here:\nhttps://t.co/092Wrwpds3\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1542395135
Free speech and human rights supporters are rallying behind Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar after a pro-Israeli government group attacked the representative-elect for announcing her support of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.
Omar--who along with Democrat Rashida Tlaib of Michigan became the first Muslim women elected to Congress--expressed her support for the movement to several websites this week prompting many to declare also #IStandWithIlhan on social media.
That's not the outcome likely hoped for by the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The group, which states that is mission is to "stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all" but is accused of promoting Islamophobia, said the support was "alarming." It said in its tweet that "BDS doesn't just criticize Israel's gov., it denies its right to exist as a Jewish State."
That claim is not true, as journalist Mehdi Hansan responded:
\u201cThis is a lie. "The BDS movement... steers away from the one-state-versus-two-states debate, focusing instead on universal rights and international law". Most member orgs "still advocate a two-state solution outside the realm of the BDS movement" - BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti\u201d— Mehdi Hasan (@Mehdi Hasan) 1542261111
Rebecca Vilkomerson, the executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, shot back at the ADL's tweet as well, calling it an "irresponsible use of @ADL_National's status as a civil rights org.," and praised Omar for being the first member of Congress to declare her support for BDS.
\u201cThis is irresponsible use of @ADL_National\u2019s status as a civil rights org. @IlhanMN supports human rights of Palestinians by supporting the nonviolent #BDS movement, an increasingly popular position in the Democratic base. It\u2019s completely legit, so the ADL better get used to it!\u201d— Rebecca Vilkomerson (@Rebecca Vilkomerson) 1542285341
\u201cThe rising support for #BDS has finally reached Congress and we\u2019re so grateful to @IlhanMN for being the first to proudly support the movement for Palestinian rights and freedom!\u201d— Rebecca Vilkomerson (@Rebecca Vilkomerson) 1542316269
Jewish Voice for Peace also applauded Omar for "helping usher in a new era when standing for justice and equality for all in Israel/Palestine--and thus for Palestinian rights and freedom--will be the norm and not exception."
\u201c#IStandWithIlhan because she's helping usher in a new era when standing for justice and equality for all in Israel/Palestine \u2013 and thus for Palestinian rights and freedom \u2013 will be the norm and not exception. (Many thanks to @Watan for original art) \u2764\ufe0f @IlhanMN\u201d— Jewish Voice for Peace (@Jewish Voice for Peace) 1542317078
For her part, Tlaib, whose family is from Palestine, offered her support for her fellow freshly-elected representative, and urged others to speak out in support of "protected freedom of speech."
\u201cMy parents were both born in Palestine (Falastine). My sity still lives there. So when my sister @IlhanMN is being attacked for supporting the #BDS movement (protected freedom of speech!) we can't stay silent. Nothing is more American than the fight for justice at home & abroad.\u201d— Rashida Tlaib (@Rashida Tlaib) 1542386266
Other individuals and groups joined the hashtag #IStandWithIlhan, including anti-Israeli- occupation group IfNotNow, which pointed to a letter of support to let Omar know: "We stand with you in the face of Islamophobic organizations attempting to attack you and undermine your leadership."
\u201c#IStandWithIlhan because Criticizing #Netanyahu and his far-right government's policies is protected free speech, not anti-Semitism. @ilhanmn\u201d— Noura Erakat (@Noura Erakat) 1542314594
\u201cAs public opinion in the US (including the Jewish community) shifts away from uncritical support of Israeli occupation, our elected leaders can & should shift with us. @IlhanMN is supporting not only the human rights of Palestinians, but free speech on Israel #IStandWithIlhan\u201d— Rebecca Pierce #SaveSilwan (@Rebecca Pierce #SaveSilwan) 1542320567
\u201cWe stand with @IlhanMN from here in Florida. Ilhan believes and fights for the freedom, safety, and rights of oppressed people here and around the world. Leaders like her are more important than ever. We support Ilhan and we support #BDS. #IStandWithIlhan \ud83c\udfa8 by @watanstudio\u201d— Dream Defenders (@Dream Defenders) 1542317287
\u201cCongresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar boldly supports BDS and justice for the Palestinian people. Now she\u2019s under attack from the ADL, a Zionist organization with a long history of advancing Islamophobia, supporting apartheid, and undermining social justice movements. #IStandWithIlhan\u201d— #DefendMasaferYatta USCPR (@#DefendMasaferYatta USCPR) 1542392658
\u201cJoin human rights activists across the country who are sharing why #IStandWithIlhan\u2014so we can work together towards for freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people in a world without racism and oppression.\u201d— #DefendMasaferYatta USCPR (@#DefendMasaferYatta USCPR) 1542392658
\u201c.@IlhanMN is a champion of many progressive causes, including Americans\u2019 rights to protest using BDS. We support Ilhan in her fight to ensure those rights are not abridged. #IStandWithIlhan \n\nCheck out and sign @MPower_Change's letter of support here:\nhttps://t.co/092Wrwpds3\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1542395135
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