Representative Ilhan Omar — who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, including part of Minneapolis — was attacked Tuesday night. At a town hall, a man named Anthony Kazmierczak ran up to the Somali-American politician as she was speaking and sprayed an unknown liquid on her before being tackled and removed by security.

Omar immediately continued speaking to the audience, vowing that she would not let “bullies” win. Her response was an act of defiance against not only Kazmierczak but also President Trump and the entire Far Right, which have been relentless in their racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic harassment of Omar ever since she was first elected to Congress. These attacks have ramped up as Trump has sought to make an example out of Minneapolis, a city at the forefront of resisting his violent campaign to terrorize immigrants and all who stand with them.

Trump has repeatedly called Minneapolis’s Somali community — the largest in the country — “garbage.” He has used a corruption scandal involving a few individuals in the community to build support for what have always been the actual targets of his mass deportations: immigrant neighbors, families, children, workers, and students.

But Trump overplayed his hand. He messed with a city that has a long history of labor and social movement activity. The murders of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti have delegitimized Trump’s war on immigrants for millions across the country. With the whole world looking to Minneapolis, the city is demonstrating combative resistance in the form of a march with over 50,000 participants, highly organized community networks, and, most importantly, the clear role of the working class as a specific force with unmatched power to shut everything down. This power was shown on January 23 and could once again force an economic blackout this Friday, January 30.

Trump appears to be on the defensive and has begun negotiating with Minnesota governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey to cool down the situation. But he must maintain the appearance of delivering the anti-immigrant offensive he promised to his most reactionary supporters. Attacking a high-profile Somali-American politician who represents both Minneapolis and the left wing of the Democratic Party is part of how Trump aims to project strength. If this incites some of his followers to commit violence against Omar or anyone they associate with her, that would only serve Trump’s agenda.

At Left Voice, we have never refrained from criticizing Omar’s strategy of channeling left-wing discontent back into the imperialist Democratic Party. But opposition to the Democrats should not prevent anyone on the Left from opposing reactionary attacks from a far-right administration against Omar or any figures using their platforms to denounce attacks on immigrants.

Additionally, Trump’s attack on Omar is not just about her as an individual. It normalizes violence against immigrants and the Left. Every time Trump or his allies smear and dehumanize Omar, they do so knowing damn well that their rhetoric might inspire someone like Kazmierczak to attack those who are far more vulnerable, whether it’s a Somali immigrant in Minneapolis or an activist organizing in solidarity with their immigrant neighbors.

This is why the entire Left, all immigrant rights activists, and all who oppose the Far Right need to loudly condemn the attacks on Ilhan Omar.

The post The Entire Left Must Oppose Trump’s Attacks on Ilhan Omar appeared first on Left Voice.

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