02:30USA: 'Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted?' - llhan Omar ahead of ousting from House committee post
Democrat Ilhan Omar was ousted from her committee post in the US House of Representatives over what Republicans called antisemitic comments about Israel, in Washington DC on Thursday.
While the Democrats suggest she was removed in an act of retaliation for when Republicans were ousted from committees in 2020, Omar stated "I am Muslim, I am an immigrant and interestingly from Africa, is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? Is anyone surprised that I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American foreign policy?"
Republicans said the move was a strong statement directed against antisemitism.
Omar went on to vow that she will continue assuming her role saying "Representation matters. Continuing to expand our ideas of who is American and who can partake in the American experiment is a good thing," said Ilhan Omar adding "I am an American, an American who is sent here by her constituents to represent them in Congress. A refugee who survived the horrors of the civil war."
The comments came before Republicans voted to oust the Democrat from the House Foreign Affairs Committee under a new GOP majority led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, with 218 'yes' to 211 'no' votes.
02:30Democrat Ilhan Omar was ousted from her committee post in the US House of Representatives over what Republicans called antisemitic comments about Israel, in Washington DC on Thursday.
While the Democrats suggest she was removed in an act of retaliation for when Republicans were ousted from committees in 2020, Omar stated "I am Muslim, I am an immigrant and interestingly from Africa, is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? Is anyone surprised that I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American foreign policy?"
Republicans said the move was a strong statement directed against antisemitism.
Omar went on to vow that she will continue assuming her role saying "Representation matters. Continuing to expand our ideas of who is American and who can partake in the American experiment is a good thing," said Ilhan Omar adding "I am an American, an American who is sent here by her constituents to represent them in Congress. A refugee who survived the horrors of the civil war."
The comments came before Republicans voted to oust the Democrat from the House Foreign Affairs Committee under a new GOP majority led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, with 218 'yes' to 211 'no' votes.