Hundreds of people gathered outside a Muslim-American civil rights group's Los Angeles fundraising event where Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) was giving a speech Saturday, the Associated Press reports.
The details: The protesters accused Omar of saying anti-Semitic remarks, according to ABC News7. Protesters held signs saying "burn the Koran," "Ilhan Omar go to hell," and “shame on you terrorists" at the Council of American-Islamic Relations of Greater Los Angeles event, a Los Angeles Daily News Ariella Plachta said in a Twitter post.
- "A mix of MAGA hats, Jewish community members and Evangelical pro-Israel types," Plachta tweeted.
- A small group of counter-protesters displayed signs at the Woodland Hills event declaring "I stand with Ilhan." They told told ABC News7 the 37-year-old freshman Democrat was being unfairly targeted because she's black and Muslim.
.@IlhanMN to the CAIR audience: “There are very fascinating people outside who for so many years have spoken about an Islam that is oppressive, that lessens and isolates women. And today they gather outside to protest a Muslim woman who is in Congress” pic.twitter.com/QfZ7TonFmI
— Ariella Plachta (@AriPlachta) March 24, 2019
The backdrop: Omar apologized in February for using language perceived as anti-Semitic while criticizing pro-Israel lobby's influence. There was further controversy this month when she suggested lawmakers and activists who support Israel hold "allegiance to a foreign country." The House passed a March resolution condemning anti-Semitism and other bigotry. The resolution was briefly delayed and language amended amid concern it unfairly singled out Omar.
Go deeper: House passes resolution condemning anti-Semitism, other bigotry
