Unpacking claims Ilhan Omar's daughter called for 'death to the colonial empire' on Instagram
In June 2025, rumors abounded that Isra Hirsi, daughter of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, had posted "death to the colonial empire" from Los Angeles to Rafah in Gaza on an Instagram story. Instagram stories are posts that disappear after 24 hours unless the accounts that post them highlight them on their profile page.
For example, X user End Wokeness shared a screen capture of the supposed Instagram story alongside a photograph of Hirsi with her mother Omar (archived):
As of this writing, the End Wokeness post had gained 10,000 and 660,000 views. The screen capture appeared on other X posts, including one by far-right political activist Laura Loomer (archived), who said Hirsi, who is Black, wanted "violence in the LA riots and calling for the end of Western Civilization." Another accused Hirsi of hating her own country, the U.S., and of wanting "a race war" (archived).
Further, Snopes users searched the website seeking to confirm the veracity of these claims. In addition, conservative news outlet The Daily Caller published a report making these same allegations.
However, due to the nature of Instagram stories and the fact that more than 24 hours had passed since Hirsi supposedly posted it, Snopes could not confirm she had indeed done so. We contacted her via Instagram direct messages to ask whether she had and we will update the story should she respond.
However, we were able to confirm that the Instagram story Hirsi allegedly reposted did exist. It was created by Instagram user @__public_library, whose bio gave a first name — Amanda — self-describing as a writer, care worker, mother and a "revert" — which is how some converts to Islam describe themselves.
The term "reversion" is sometimes preferred to the term "conversion," based on the belief that babies who are born with a Muslim nature and raised in other religions and cultures will return to their innate Muslim nature. Indeed, one of her stories on June 11, 2025, indicated @__public_library had "reverted" in September 2024:
(Instagram user @__public_library)
Many of her posts related to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a result of the Israel-Hamas war.
Indeed, on June 8, 2025, @__public_library posted a series of images with text and a song by Natalia Lafourcade titled "Hasta la Raíz" (archived). One of the images was the same that appeared in Hirsi's alleged Instagram story, showing children playing jump rope on a dirt road with the text: "From LA to Rafah, there is one common oppressor. Death to the colonial empire. Life for our children."
The post appeared to draw a parallel between the Israel-Hamas war and the confrontations between protesters in Los Angeles and Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the weekend of June 9, 2025.
Below the post, the user had written the following (emphasis ours):
I am the Granddaughter of Mexican migrants.I am the daughter of an occupied land.I am the mother of resistance.I am both witness and the keeper of generational trauma.This is a never-ending war.All empires must end in flames.From occupied "America" to occupied Palestine
We found no indication that Hirsi followed @__public_library, though it is not necessary to follow a public Instagram account to reshare one of their posts. Hirsi, who is Black and a Muslim, has also frequently posted in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, including on posts that aimed to share personal news. For example, she used the tag #FreePalestine in the post where she announced her graduation from Barnard College at Columbia University. The post also included a photo of her holding up a Palestinian flag on stage during the graduation ceremony (archived):In April 2025, Hirsi said she had been suspended from Barnard College after taking part in a pro-Palestine protest on campus (archived):
As of this writing, there isn't enough evidence to determine whether Hirsi did or did not reshare @__public_library's Instagram story. We will update this article if and when Hirsi responds to our request for comment.
Ibrahim, Nur. "What We Know about Trump Deploying National Guard for LA Protests." Snopes, Snopes.com, 10 June 2025, www.snopes.com/news/2025/06/10/trump-national-guard-los-angeles-protests/. Accessed 11 June 2025.
Isra Hirsi — THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF YOUTH VOICES. "THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS of YOUTH VOICES." THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS of YOUTH VOICES, 2014, www.internationalcongressofyouthvoices.com/isra-hirsi. Accessed 11 June 2025.
MacPhail, Kyle Abdur-Raqeeb. "Islam21c." Islam21c, 19 Nov. 2015, www.islam21c.com/theology/am-i-a-convert-or-a-revert/. Accessed 11 June 2025.
Nace, Aki. "Ilhan Omar's Daughter Says She Was Suspended from College after Pro-Palestinian Protest at Columbia - CBS Minnesota." Www.cbsnews.com, 18 Apr. 2024, www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/ilhan-omar-daughter-isra-hirsi-suspended-pro-palestinian-protest/. Accessed 11 June 2025.
Sandoval, Natalie. "Ilhan Omar's 'Hyper Woke' Daughter Has Message for America." Dailycaller, The Daily Caller, 10 June 2025, dailycaller.com/2025/06/10/ilhan-omar-isra-hirsi-minnesota-refugee-somalia-colonial-empire-siad-barre/. Accessed 11 June 2025.
Snopes.com, 2025, www.snopes.com/tag/israel-hamas_war/. Accessed 11 June 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Republicans, some Democrats and even ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich weigh in on ex-Speaker Michael Madigan's sentence
In what's become somewhat customary once an Illinois political titan falls, leaders throughout the state responded with condemnation and called for reforms upon hearing Friday that ex-Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison and fined $2.5 million on federal corruption charges. House Republican leader Tony McCombie of Savanna and Senate Republican leader John Curran of Downers Grove called for bipartisan ethics reforms in the wake of the sentencing, with Curran specifically requesting committee hearings and votes on potential changes — something that didn't happen this session. Madigan's sentencing was 'a stark and shameful reminder of the corruption that has plagued Illinois government for far too long,' McCombie said in a statement. 'Justice was served — but the damage to public trust runs deep.' But Illinois' last prominent statewide politician who went to federal prison, former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, held back on the chance to take a swipe at a bitter nemesis when Madigan was sentenced. Though the two were Democrats, they feuded for nearly all six years Blagojevich was in office between 2003 and 2009. 'When that guy, Madigan, was on the top of the mountain, they were all kissing his ass,' Blagojevich said. 'Now they're going to be stomping all over his grave. And it's really, it's really sort of an unappealing side of human nature.' Blagojevich said Madigan's conviction underscores the systemic problems in politics and government in the state Capitol. 'Is the system in Springfield corrupt, in many ways, absolutely,' Blagojevich said in an interview with the Tribune while insisting he didn't break the law. 'It's a system, I've been saying this from the beginning, it all too often works for itself on the backs of the people.' Blagojevich — whose 14-year federal prison sentence for corruption was commuted by President Donald Trump, who ultimately also pardoned Blagojevich — didn't want to celebrate Madigan's prison sentence despite the two's often-tense relationship. 'I just don't think it's right for me to kick a man when he's down,' Blagojevich said. 'What's happening now to him, I know what it's like. And it's really easy for these politicians to get on their high horses and start kicking someone, stomping on someone.' Senate President Don Harmon, a Democrat from Oak Park who is facing a potential fine of nearly $10 million from the Illinois State Board of Elections for improper political fundraising, said Friday's sentence represented 'a solemn reminder' that the duty of public office holders is to serve 'and that there is accountability for those who do not.'
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MAGA Celebs Trapped in Israel Amid Airstrikes
CNN pundit Scott Jennings and Olympian Caitlyn Jenner—both stalwart supporters of President Donald Trump—are stuck in Israel as the country exchanges airstrikes with Iran. The Israeli government shut down the country's main airport, Ben Gurion, in Tel Aviv on Thursday after launching what it described as a 'preemptive' air strike on Iran, killing several military commanders. 'Don't think I am getting out of Israel today!' Jennings wrote on X Friday Morning. 'But will continue to report on what I see and hear.' Jennings later posted a Daily Mail article reporting that both he and MAGA diehard Caitlyn Jenner had been marooned in Israel, joking, 'This headline is an all-time mad lib.' 'Good company,' Jenner replied. Jennings first posted about his visit to Israel on Monday, June 9, writing on X that he was taking a break from CNN for the week to 'journey through Israel.' Jenner, meanwhile, arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday to attend the city's Pride parade, according to The Hollywood Reporter. After Israel attacked Iran, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel overnight. Israeli authorities later reported that most Iranian missiles had been intercepted. Jennings told the Daily Mail he was moved to a safe room when the strikes began. In a series of videos posted to X on Thursday and Friday, Jennings describes 'hearing booms in the distance' and adds, 'Iran missile attacks, I presume.' Jenner, 75, told an Israeli news station Friday morning that she'd spoken with her daughter, Kylie Jenner, and assured her, 'I'll keep myself safe, and they'll take care of me.' Jenner took to Instagram on Friday afternoon to express her continued support for Israel. Alongside a photo of her visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, she wrote, 'My heart is with Israel now and forever. Evil shall not prevail!' Jennings and Jenner are also both strong supporters of President Trump, who stood behind Israel's airstrikes on Iran, calling them 'excellent' on Friday morning. The United States is now assisting Israel in shooting down Iranian missiles. In her latest update, the former athlete shared an image of the sky in Tel Aviv during the airstrikes, writing, 'Pray for us all.'
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Voice of America brings back Farsi-speaking staff amid Israel-Iran conflict
Several dozen sidelined Voice of America staffers have suddenly been called back to work as the Israel-Iran conflict escalates. It is a dramatic turn of events for the American government-funded broadcasting system that was shut down by the Trump administration in March. Steve Herman, who has been VOA's chief national correspondent since 2022, said the broadcaster specifically brought back Farsi language speakers who have been on paid administrative leave. The move suggests that the US government wants to bolster its programming into Iran. Before the cutbacks were instituted in March, VOA said that it produced four-plus hours a day of 'Persian-language programming to Iran.' The VOA website said the content 'confronts the disinformation and censorship efforts of the Iranian regime and enhances U.S. efforts to speak directly to the Iranian people and the global Persian-speaking diaspora.' It is unclear how much content VOA has been beaming into Iran in recent weeks. The broadcaster's VOA Farsi channel on YouTube showed eight new videos since Israel struck inside Iran early Friday. Staffers from some other VOA language services have also been called back to work. Brett Bruen, president of the consulting firm Global Situation Room, reacted to Herman's X post about the news by tweeting to Kari Lake, the Trump loyalist who has been tasked with gutting VOA. 'Turns out not having a channel to communicate with the Iranian people was a pretty bad idea, @KariLake,' Bruen wrote. A spokesperson for Lake did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. Patsy Widakuswara, one of the sidelined journalists who is suing the Trump administration to salvage the broadcaster, told CNN on Friday that 'VOA's role in providing independent, factual and authoritative news has been proven throughout countless times of crisis. But after months off the air, we've already lost a lot of audience and credibility. They should bring us all back so we can respond to breaking news in all parts of the world.'
