House of Representatives Votes to Remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee, Sparking Controversy Over Alleged Racism and Islamophobia

On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The vote was largely along party lines, with Republicans leading the charge. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) gave an impassioned speech in defense of Omar, saying that the vote was “about targeting women of color.”

In her speech, Ocasio-Cortez alleged that Omar was removed from the committee because she is Black and Muslim, and not because of the comments she made. “One of the disgusting legacies after 9/11 has been the targeting and racism against Muslim Americans throughout the United States of America, and this is an extension of that legacy,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

Omar’s removal was in response to previous controversial remarks that invoked antisemitism. The resolution to remove Omar referenced past tweets of the congresswoman’s which were critical of Israel and U.S. support for the country.

Ocasio-Cortez’s speech was met with applause and support from other Democrats in the House. She concluded her speech by saying, “We must stand together in solidarity and recognize that this is not about one member, this is about all of us.”

The House vote to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee has been met with criticism from many Democrats, who argue that the vote was motivated by racism and Islamophobia. The vote has also been seen as a sign of the growing divide between Democrats and Republicans in the House.