Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) took to Twitter soon after vicious chants of “send her back” broke out at President Donald Trump’s rally Wednesday night, implying that the congresswoman, who is an American citizen, ought to be deported to Somalia from where she fled when she was a pre-teen.
Omar invoked poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou:
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.-Maya Angelou https://t.co/46jcXSXF0B
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 18, 2019
She posted a picture of herself presiding over the House:
?? I am where I belong, at the people’s house and you’re just gonna have to deal! pic.twitter.com/W0OvDXGxQX
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 18, 2019
She also retweeted messages of support and solidarity from fellow lawmakers and other political observers.
Omar has been a boogeyman for some on the right since before her election, and has since been involved in many very public fights about Israel and Palestine.
Now though, the attacks seem to be escalating as she was singled out even from “the squad,” four Democratic congresswomen of color Trump told to “go back” where they came from this weekend.
The Secret Service should be protecting the public from this president.
I feel very badly for these young WOC that are being casted as the problem in this country. Their lives, at least for the immediate future, are going to be harder than I can imagine. They are going to be on the defensive, for what? Being WOC and speaking out?
At least she was able to use poetry to respond to the loud, juvenile chanting of tRump’s supporters.
A friend, I was talking to last night, reminded me that we’re still the country that elected Obama. I said really, that wasn’t that long ago but it doesn’t feel like the same country.
Good for her. Draw the contrast between her and the deplorables. Maybe good will drive out bad.
They’ve moved on from “lock her up” to “send her back.” The misogyny is the constant.