(Hill) Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Wednesday reflected on her own painful experience with Islamophobia to push the Biden administration [to] appoint a special envoy to monitor anti-Muslim hate in the U.S. and worldwide.
Omar was joined by other Muslim members of Congress as well as Jewish and Asian-American lawmakers at a press conference to raise awareness about hate speech and assaults on religious and ethnic minorities.
“As a young refugee who barely spoke English, the students mocked me, even going as far as putting chewing gum on my hijab,” Omar recounted during a press conference outside the Capitol.
“At one point I was specifically attacked by a group of teenagers, because I didn’t bare my legs or arms during gym class. And this has followed me even as I ran for public office and represent my district in the United States Congress,” Omar said.
