Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is criticized for using a poem on the Holocaust to defend Ilhan Omar



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US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sparked outrage online after using a poem written about the victims of the Holocaust to defend her colleague, Ilhan Omar, in response to a "dangerous" tweet from the president.

Omar has once again been the subject of a controversial debate this week, following remarks last month about the September 11 terrorist attacks that "some people have done something". area.

Donald Trump, outraged, tweeted "WE NEVER FORGET" Friday night, accompanied by a 43-second video showing Omar's commentary during a speech to the Council on American-Islamic Relations ( CAIR), interspersed with images from 11 September.

The video does not show Omar's speech in full and Ocasio-Cortez did not delay in applauding the president's glare, saying the tweet was a "dangerous" statement of prejudices that could eventually cause a prejudice to a politician already dying. threats and abuses.

"Congress members have a duty to react to the President's explicit attack today," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Friday. "[Ilhan Omar’s] life is in danger. To keep our colleagues quiet, we need to be complicit in the direct and dangerous targeting of a congressman. We have to talk. & # 39;

The AOC tweeted for Omar's defense using Martin Niemöller's famous poem, "They've arrived ..." to condemn a President's tweet Friday night.

The AOC tweeted for Omar's defense using Martin Niemöller's famous poem, "They've arrived …" to condemn a President's tweet Friday night.

Omar, who has been repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism, said the fury surrounding the remarks - which she said were taken out of context - comes from the fact that she is Muslim and not white.

Omar, who has been repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism, said the fury surrounding the remarks – which she said were taken out of context – comes from the fact that she is Muslim and not white.

Trump tweeted "WE NEVER FORGOTTEN" with a video showing the speech of "some people did something" from Omar mixed with the video of the disaster

Trump tweeted "WE NEVER FORGOTTEN" with a video showing the speech of "some people did something" from Omar mixed with the video of the disaster

Along with the rallying cry, the WCA also shared a picture of Martin Niemöller's famous poem, "They came …", inspired by the Holocaust and hanging on the wall of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC.

The poem reads: "They first came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not socialist. Then they came to pick up the trade unionists and I did not speak because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak because I was not Jewish. Then they came to get me – and there was no one left to speak for me. "

Despite the poem that shares themes similar to his tweet, AOC has been widely criticized by critics who believe that the use of Niemöller's famous work is "disturbing" for Omar's defense.

The indignation stems from a number of comments made by the Somali-American democrat in recent months regarding Israel.

The criticism was launched for the first time after she suggested that US support for the Middle East country be "All About Benjamins" – which many have interpreted as a snap to the trope. fanatical that wealthy Jews control the world.

"It's something deeply troubling that the AOC makes references to the Holocaust to defend an open and unrepentant anti-Semitism that is the subject of criticism," commented conservative commentator Ben Shapiro.

David Harasanyi, editor-in-chief of the Federalist, added: "It is a shameful attempt to calm the speech. It belittles both the real victims of 9/11 and the Holocaust. "

Others interpreted AOC's use of the poem differently, accusing it of seeking to "compare the US President to Adolf Hitler".

However, on Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was eager to defend Omar and said his president "should not use the painful images of September 11 for a political attack."

In a statement published while she was in Germany, visiting US troops, "the memory of 9/11 is a sacred land and any discussion about it must be done with reverence". She said "it was unfair that the president, as commander-in-chief, fires the flames to make anyone less safe."

Despite the poem that shares themes similar to those of his tweet, AOC has been widely criticized by critics who believe that the origins of "First First Came" of the Holocaust make its use inappropriate for the defense of Omar.

Despite the poem that shares themes similar to those of his tweet, AOC has been widely criticized by critics who believe that the origins of "First First Came" of the Holocaust make its use inappropriate for the defense of Omar.

The indignation stems from a number of comments made by the Somali-American democrat in recent months regarding Israel.

The indignation stems from a number of comments made by the Somali-American democrat in recent months regarding Israel.

In his CAIR speech last month, Omar said, "It's been too long since we live with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I'm fed up and all the Muslims of this country should be fed up. .

"CAIR was founded after September 11, because they recognized that some people had done something and we were all starting to lose access to our civil liberties."

Since controversial remarks resurfaced, Omar defended what she said using an example of George W. Bush making similar remarks as a result of the tragedy and marking the difference in reaction.

Omar said that the fury surrounding the comments – which she said were taken out of context – comes from the fact that she is Muslim and not white.

"Bush downplayed the terrorist attack? And if he was a Muslim, "she asked on Twitter.

Progressive Democrats, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, lined up to support Omar in response to the AOC's call for other legislators to condemn Trump's targeting of Omar.

They described the president's behavior as "disgusting" and noted that Omar was already receiving death threats.

The Washington Post first noted that Bush had already described the terrorists as "people who knocked those buildings down" in remarks made at Ground Zero just days after the attack.

Omar is inspired by the example in a tweet related to the original article.

At a fundraiser for CAIR, she had stated that the organization had been founded after September 11 because she recognized that some people had acted and we were all starting to lose access to our civil liberties.

"So you can not just say that today, you look at me in a strange way and I try to make myself pleasant. You must say that this person looks at me strangely, I am not comfortable with that, and I will talk to him and ask him why. Because that's your right, she said.

Others interpreted AOC's use of the poem differently, accusing it of seeking to "compare the US President to Adolf Hitler".

Others interpreted AOC's use of the poem differently, accusing it of seeking to "compare the US President to Adolf Hitler".

"Congress members have a duty to respond to the President's explicit attack today," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Friday, saying Omar's life was in danger

Representative Ilhan Omar likened her controversial 9/11 remarks to those of George W. Bush after the attack, suggesting Friday that he would have been the victim of a similar reaction when he was Muslim.

Representative Ilhan Omar likened her controversial 9/11 remarks to those of George W. Bush after the attack, suggesting Friday that he would have been the victim of a similar reaction when he was Muslim.

The remarks were criticized again, having already overcome the accusations that she would be anti-Semitic.

"The first congressman to ever describe the terrorists who killed thousands of Americans on September 11 was" people who did something, "GOP representative Dan Crenshaw said in an accusatory tweet. . & # 39; Incredible. & # 39;

In the morning, Brian Kilmeade of Fox & Friends said, "You have to wonder if this is an American first."

On Thursday, the New York Post even went so far as to splash a photo of one of the World Trade Center towers crashing into a fireball, with the banner: "Rep. Ilhan Omar: September 11 was "some people did something".

The Washington Post's fact-finder pointed out that Bush had made similar comments in a September 14, 2001 speech when he spoke under a crow at Ground Zero.

Bush told rescuers in an impromptu speech through a megaphone that the nation was mourning the victims of the Twin Towers attack.

"I can not hear you!" we told him. Bush said, "I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people – and the people who knocked out these buildings will hear us all soon! & # 39;

It was part of an intentional Bush effort not to qualify the attackers as Muslims.

Three days after the impromptu speech by the megaphone, Bush went to the Islamic Center in Washington DC to condemn attacks against Muslims.

He said: "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. Islam is peace. These terrorists do not represent peace. They represent evil and war.

"Those who feel that they can intimidate our fellow citizens to eliminate their anger do not represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humanity, and they should be ashamed of this kind of behavior . "

Omar put the points in touch Friday and said in a tweet that Bush had not been attacked for calling the attackers "people" instead of assassins or terrorists.

Bernie Sanders was the first major democrat to follow in the footsteps of the AOC on Friday night

Bernie Sanders was the first major democrat to follow in the footsteps of the AOC on Friday night

Then, Elizabeth Warren tweeted after Sanders that she too had found Trump's "disgusting" attack.

Then, Elizabeth Warren tweeted after Sanders that she too had found Trump's "disgusting" attack.

Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota joins her Senate colleagues to support Omar a few hours later. She was careful to note that she does not tolerate the MP's comments but found Trump's tweet offensive.

Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota joins her Senate colleagues to support Omar a few hours later. She was careful to note that she does not tolerate the MP's comments but found Trump's tweet offensive.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a press conference shortly after Omar had posted the tweet that she had not yet connected to the congressman.

"I have not had the opportunity to talk to him to see the nature of his comment and, as usual with my colleagues, I call them before calling them. So I can not wait to hear it, "she said. "She was in transit, we tried to reach her, she was in transit. So I will make a few comments after I talk to him.

The Democrats were at a retreat Thursday in northern Virginia, where the comments, revealed in an April 8 video posted on Twitter, were discussed.

Ocasio-Cortez defended his colleague against the journalists who marked the retreat.

"We are at the point of inciting violence against progressive women of color," said the New York representative.

Ocasio-Cortez criticized Crenshaw on Twitter for refusing to co-sponsor the September 11 victims' compensation fund, while "having the audacity to arouse resentment against Ilhan with completely out-of-context quotes ".

She told the Texas congressman to "do something" for Republicans to make insensitive comments.

Sanders answered his call half an hour later. The Vermont senator and presidential candidate of 2020 said in a tweet: "Ilhan Omar is a leader with strength and courage. She will not shrink from the racism and hatred of Trump, nor will we. Disgusting and dangerous attacks against her must stop.

Left-wing Senator Elizabeth Warren, also a presidential candidate, was behind her 2020 opponent with a tweet accusing Trump of inciting violence against a congressional woman sitting – and against a whole group of Americans because of their religion.

"It's disgusting. It's shameful. And any elected leader who refuses to condemn him shares the responsibility, "wrote the Massachusetts senator.

The New York Post even went so far as to splash a photo of one of the World Trade Center's collapsing towers into a fireball, with the banner: "Rep. Ilhan Omar: September 11 was "some people did something" & # 39;

The New York Post even went so far as to splash a photo of one of the World Trade Center's collapsing towers into a fireball, with the banner: "Rep. Ilhan Omar: September 11 was "some people did something" & # 39;

Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota joins her Senate colleagues to support Omar a few hours later. She was careful to note that she does not approve of the MP's comments, but found Trump's tweet offensive.

The Democratic presidential candidate who shares her home country with Omar said: "Someone has already been charged with a serious threat to the life of MP Omar. The video the president has chosen to send today will only further incite hatred. You may disagree with his comments – as I did before – but this video is false. . Enough & # 39;

Beto O 'Rourke, Pete Buttigieg and Julián Castro also condemned Trump's attack on Omar.

Buttigieg, who served on the US Navy reserve, tweeted: "I have served overseas, at the risk of my life, in the fight against such terrorism. But he can not be totally defeated unless we have leaders at home who destabilize his ability to sow hatred – hatred against Islam or against a number of 'others'.

"The president has today made America smaller. It is not enough to condemn him. we need to model something better.

"The threats to the life of @IlhanMN clearly show what is at stake if we do not do it and if we do not fight hatred in all its forms."

Omar spoke of the threats of violence she had received, as she defended herself against the "double standards" she faces, the late show host, Stephen Colbert, earlier in the week. She is "as American as everyone else" and suffers from anti-Muslim discrimination.

Ocasio-Cortez clashed with representative Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), who had criticized Omar's comments and broadcast a short clip

Ocasio-Cortez clashed with representative Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), who had criticized Omar's comments and broadcast a short clip

Beto O 'Rourke, Pete Buttigieg and Julián Castro also condemned Trump's attack on Omar.

Beto O 'Rourke, Pete Buttigieg and Julián Castro also condemned Trump's attack on Omar.

Last week, New York police arrested a man who threatened to "put a bullet in his wife's skin". [expletive] . Skull & # 39;

She told Colbert: "I have been sworn, I have taken an oath to the Constitution. I am as American as everyone.

The question of whether to link al-Qaeda and other terrorist attacks, including September 11, to Islam became a campaign issue in 2016 when Trump accused the government of al-Qaeda and other terrorist attacks, including Sept. 11, to Islam. former Barack Obama to refuse to call "radical Islamic terrorism".

He then brought the same charge to Hillary Clinton, accusing him of being a "total denial" for not calling the Pulse nightclub shootout in Orlando, Florida, for the first time. The work of a radical Islamist terrorist.

She had tweeted, "Islam is not our opponent. Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people and have absolutely nothing to do with terrorism. & # 39;

Trump said: "She totally denies. And his persistent reluctance to ever name the enemy diffuse weakness around the world.

However, when he made his first trip abroad as president in Saudi Arabia, home of the majority of September 11 attackers and his brain, Osama bin Laden, he drew a different note.

"This is not a battle between different denominations, different sects or different civilizations," Trump said. "It's a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to erase human life and honest people of all religions who seek to protect it."

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