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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who is part of the cohort of progressive Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill known as “the Squad,” denied that Democrat voters were celebrating political violence in the wake of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
In video footage obtained by Fox News Digital, Omar was asked about her thoughts on Democratic voters celebrating the death of Kirk and cheering on political violence in the wake of his assassination.
“Are you concerned with the rhetoric coming from the Democratic base regarding the Charlie Kirk assassination?” Omar was asked, to which she did not respond. “Why are Democratic voters celebrating political violence?” Omar was then asked again.
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“I don’t think anybody is,” Omar shot back.
But, evidence appears to show that many folks have been facing repercussions over their decision to mock, or praise, Kirk’s death. This includes K-12 education officials, college professors, healthcare professionals, political pundits, writers and a list of other professionals from various sectors and major companies, such as the law firm Perkins Coie, the company behind the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and Office Depot, among others.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have roundly condemned the trend of political violence following Kirk’s assassination. But, despite the condemnation and expressions of sorrow from both sides of the political spectrum, there have still been some contentious moments on the Hill following Kirk’s death.
On the day of Kirk’s passing, a moment of silence for the slain activist inside the House Chamber devolved into chaos after Republican South Carolina Rep. Lauren Boebert requested a spoken prayer be said in addition to a silent prayer, which was met with protest from Democrats. Some reportedly began shouting about how Republicans had ignored a school shooting that happened the same day as Kirk’s, according to media reports. Meanwhile, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., stood up and began shouting back, saying, “You all caused this.”
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When asked why Democrats refused to say a prayer for Kirk, Omar responded: “We did a moment of silence, nobody prays on the House floor for anybody who has passed away.”
Omar, meanwhile, is facing efforts by Republicans to strip her of her committee assignments and seats after she, according to GOP lawmakers, disparaged Kirk’s legacy shortly following his assassination.
The remarks were made during an interview with progressive news outlet Zeteo. Omar told the outlet days after Kirk’s assassination that he previously “downplayed slavery and what Black people have gone through in this country by saying Juneteenth shouldn’t exist.”
“There are a lot of people who are out there talking about him just wanting to have a civil debate,” Omar continued. “There is nothing more effed up, you know, like, than to completely pretend that, you know, his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so.”
Omar also criticized GOP figures who have been attacking Democrats for their rhetoric following Kirk’s assassination. “These people are full of s—. And it’s important for us to call them out while we feel anger and sadness, and have, you know, empathy, which Charlie said, ‘No, it shouldn’t exist,’ because that’s a newly created word or something,” Omar said, referring to Kirk’s comments about “hate speech.”
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
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