Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) connected Thursday downplayed nan harassment of a Jewish student by anti-Israel protesters on nan field of UCLA and castigated nan assemblage for not doing much to protect nan agitators.
The “Squad” congresswoman shrugged disconnected a viral video of nan April incident, successful which respective masked protesters are seen physically blocking nan student, who is wearing a Star of David necklace, arsenic he tries to locomotion to his people connected nan UCLA campus.
“Just for clarification, that video we conscionable watched, we saw group moving around,” Omar said aft nan video was played during a House Education and Workforce Committee proceeding on antisemitic encampments connected assemblage campuses.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, 1 of 3 assemblage leaders testifying astatine nan hearing, was nan target of Omar’s overseas statement of questioning that followed.
“Was it possible, do you think, for that student to beryllium capable to get into campus? Was that student really being blocked from entering campus?” nan Minnesota Democrat asked Block.
“Well, that was successful nan mediate of campus,” Block responded. “They’re not being blocked from being connected campus, possibly being blocked from a pathway connected campus.”
“He should beryllium allowed to pass,” nan chancellor asserted. “I mean, immoderate portion of field is unfastened to students, truthful blocking him was really inappropriate.”
The alleged Palestine Solidarity Encampment astatine UCLA was nan tract of a violent clash betwixt nan anti-Israel protesters and counterprotesters connected April 30, which saw capsicum spray, firecrackers and fists deployed by a group of individuals fed up pinch nan disruptive, weeklong demonstration.
Omar went connected to reason during nan proceeding that UCLA administrators should person done much to protect nan encampment.
“You could person prevented this by protecting nan divers groups of pro-Palestinian students that were peacefully gathered connected field to stock meals group successful solidarity against nan sadistic genocide,” Omar told Block. “You could person prevented this by protecting these students’ First Amendment correct to assemble.”
“How did you neglect nan students astatine galore captious points wherever you could person intervened?” nan congresswoman asked nan UCLA chancellor.
“Thank you for nan question, but I’m sorry, I cull nan premise,” Block responded, earlier being interrupted by Omar.
“Can I decorativeness my statement?” he asked.
“No,” Omar changeable back. “Are immoderate of these [counterprotesters] successful jail?”
Block explained that authorities were summoned “as quickly arsenic possible” and that constabulary were still successful nan process of identifying nan group progressive successful nan skirmish.
The encampment was declared an unlawful assembly soon aft nan melee and constabulary arrested much than 200 anti-Israel demonstrators.
“This encampment was against policy, this violated time, place, and manner,” Block noted.
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