Rep. Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution in support of the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions movement saying it was in a long tradition of U.S. boycotts.
“Americans of conscience have a proud history of participating in boycotts to advocate for human rights abroad including … boycotting Nazi Germany from March 1933 to October 1941 in response to the dehumanization of the Jewish people in the lead-up to the Holocaust,” Omar said in the resolution introduced Tuesday.
The 1930s boycott by the U.S. Jews of German goods came during the lead up to Holocaust starting in part with Germans boycotting Jewish businesses.
In the resolution and also in a committee hearing, Omar also compared the BDS movement to the Boston Tea Party.
Omar announced her resolution Tuesday in an interview with Al-Monitor.
“We are introducing a resolution … to really speak about the American values that support and believe in our ability to exercise our first amendment rights in regard to boycotting,” the Minnesota Democrat. “And it is an opportunity for us to explain why it is we support a nonviolent movement, which is the BDS movement.”
Omar said she plans on introducing the BDS resolution this week around the same time House Democratic leaders plan on voting on a resolution condemning the movement.
During her election campaign, she claimed “not helpful in getting that two-state solution” before changing her position days after winning a House seat.
“I believe and support the BDS movement and have fought to make sure people’s right to support it isn’t criminalized,” Omar said.
Her support for the controversial movements also comes with a trove of comments that both Republicans and Democrats have said are anti-Semitic.
Omar tweeted in 2012 that “Israel has hypnotized the world, May Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.”
After winning her seat in 2018, she accused the American-Israel Political Action Committee of buying influence from U.S. politicians for Israel, a statement for which she later apologized and said was anti-Semitic.
Omar was criticized in February for using the dual-loyalty trope when she said certain people in the U.S. wanted “allegiance” to Israel.
She did not apologize for the comments but added that she “should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee.”
In May, Omar defended Palestinians after terrorists rained rockets on Israel.
“How many more protesters must be shot, rockets must be fired, and little kids must be killed until the endless cycle of violence ends? The status quo of occupation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unsustainable. Only real justice can bring about security and lasting peace,” she said in a tweet.
How many more protesters must be shot, rockets must be fired, and little kids must be killed until the endless cycle of violence ends?
The status quo of occupation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unsustainable. Only real justice can bring about security and lasting peace.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 5, 2019
