Omar lauds House passage of anti-hate measure as ‘great progress’

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Thursday lauded the House’s passage of a measure broadly condemning anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred.

The measure was passed amid flaring tensions over comments made by Omar that had been widely criticized as anti-Semitic.

“Our nation is having a difficult conversation, but we believe this is great progress,” Omar tweeted, alongside a joint statement with fellow Muslim lawmakers Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.).{mosads}

“We are tremendously proud to be part of a body that has put forth a condemnation of all forms of bigotry including anti-Semitism, racism and white supremacy,” the representatives wrote in a statement. “Our nation is having a difficult conversation and we believe this is great progress.”

“Today is historic on many fronts,” they added. “It’s the first time we have voted on a resolution condemning Anti-Muslim bigotry.”

Our nation is having a difficult conversation, but we believe this is great progress. pic.twitter.com/gSua9a8mki

— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) March 7, 2019

The resolution, which was originally expected to condemn anti-Semitism alone, also included language condemning “Islamophobia, racism, and other forms of bigotry.” The measure easily passed the lower chamber in a vote of 407-23.

Lawmakers passed the resolution, which does not mention Omar by name, amid heightened tensions over comments Omar made that were widely considered anti-Semitic. Critics said Omar’s remarks appeared to question whether people advocating for Israel were more loyal to that country than the United States.

Her comments were slammed by Republicans and some Democrats as playing into the anti-Semitic trope that people advocating for Israel are more loyal to the country than the U.S.