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Ilhan Omar's Defiance Resonates With Muslim-American Activists

Brian Padden

   WASHINGTON - U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar struck a chord with other
   Muslim Americans when she denounced a perceived assumption that she is
   reluctant to condemn or sympathetic to terrorism and atrocities
   committed by Islamic groups.

   "Does this need to be on repeat every five minutes?" Omar asked during
   a Muslim Caucus Education Collective forum in Washington on Tuesday.

   "So today, I forgot to condemn al-Qaida," she continued to resounding
   applause. "So here's the al-Qaida one. Today I forgot to condemn a FGM
   [female genital mutilation.] So there you go."

   Muslim-American progressive activists at the conference said Omar's
   outrage mirrored their anger at having their values and loyalty
   constantly questioned.

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