Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), revealed on Instagram that she’s currently unemployed, over a year after her arrest during an anti-Israel protest at Columbia University.
“Unemployment got me,” the 22-year-old Barnard College graduate wrote in a selfie posted to her Instagram Story.
Hirsi, who graduated in May, is now reselling used clothes — including skirts, Dr. Martens boots, and a multicolored striped cardigan — through the Depop resale app, sharing the link with her 82,000+ Instagram followers.
In April 2024, Hirsi was among more than 100 protesters arrested by NYPD for setting up a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on Columbia University’s campus. At the time, she was a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) and described herself as “hyper-woke.”
Following her arrest, Barnard College suspended Hirsi, temporarily barring her from campus housing and dining. After Hirsi publicly stated she was homeless and without access to food, the college lifted the suspension within a week.
Despite the controversy, Rep. Omar celebrated her daughter’s graduation, writing on Facebook:
“There is no greater joy as a parent than seeing your child succeed… I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude to see my eldest daughter Isra Hirsi graduate college.”
Omar also praised her daughter’s activism, calling it a “righteous fight against Columbia University’s support of genocide.”
While some law firms and CEOs have stated they will not hire students who engaged in anti-Semitic behavior during the campus protests, it’s unclear if Hirsi’s activism has impacted her job prospects.
As she figures out her next steps, Hirsi appears to be relying on reselling her wardrobe to support herself post-graduation.
Leave a Reply