Isra Hirsi

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Isra Hirsi
High school student speaking out against gun violence (Isra Hirsi) (cropped).jpg
Born (2003-02-22) February 22, 2003 (age 21)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Education Barnard College
Known forEnvironmental Activism
Movement Youth Climate Strike
Parent(s) Ilhan Omar
Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi
Relatives Sahra Noor (aunt)
Awards Brower Youth Award (2019)

Isra Hirsi (born February 22, 2003) is an American environmental activist. She co-founded and served as the co-executive director of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike. [1] In 2020, she was named in the Fortune's 40 Under 40 Government and Politics list. [2] She is the daughter of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar.

Contents

Early life and education

Hirsi was born on February 22, 2003, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Somali American U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar [3] [4] [5] and Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi. Hirsi attended Minneapolis South High School, [6] which she graduated from in 2021. She became involved in climate activism after joining her high school's environmental club in her freshman year. [5] [7]

Hirsi protesting against gun violence in 2018 Isra Hirsi protesting against gun violence and for gun law reform (cropped).jpg
Hirsi protesting against gun violence in 2018

Hirsi attended Barnard College of Columbia University prior to her suspension. She began studying there in fall 2021. She was suspended after participating in an on-campus tent encampment protesting the university's investments in Israel and Israel's invasion of Gaza on April 18, 2024. [8] [9] Hirsi has claimed that she will continue protesting until her "demands are met." [10]

Activism

At the age of 12, she was one of the participants protesting in favor of Jamar Clark at the Mall of America. [5]

Hirsi coordinated the organization of hundreds of student-led strikes across the United States on March 15 and May 3, 2019. [4] She co-founded the U.S. Youth Climate Strike, [5] the American arm of a global youth climate change movement, in January 2019. [11] [12] [13] She acts as the co-executive director of this group. [5] [14] She served as the chair of the Minnesota chapter of the High School Democrats of America during the 2018–2019 term. [15] In 2019, she won a Brower Youth Award. [16] That same year, Hirsi received the Voice of the Future Award. [7] In 2020, Hirsi was placed on BET's "Future 40" list. [17]

On April 18, 2024, Hirsi was suspended from Barnard College for taking part in what Barnard College claimed to be an "unauthorised encampment" [18] protest on the property of Columbia University in which there were calls for Columbia to divest from Israel. [8] She was also arrested by the NYPD later that day and released that evening. [19] [20]

Authored articles

References

  1. ↑ Hatzipanagos, Rachel. "The missing message in Gen Z's climate activism". Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  2. ↑ "40 under 40 Government and Politics: Isra Hirsi" . Fortune . Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Isra Hirsi". Brower Youth Awards . September 4, 2019. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Isra Hirsi". The International Congress Of Youth Voices. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ettachfini, Leila (September 18, 2019). "Isra Hirsi is 16, Unbothered, and Saving the Planet". Vice News . Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  6. ↑ Walsh, Jim (September 13, 2019). "'It helps a lot with climate grief': Student organizers gear up for next week's Minnesota Youth Climate Strike". MinnPost . Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Vogel, Emily (October 23, 2019). "16-Year-Old Climate and Racial Justice Advocate Isra Hirsi to Be Honored as Voice of the Future (Video)". TheWrap . Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Hall, Richard (April 18, 2024). "Ilhan Omar's daughter suspended by Columbia University for Gaza protest". Independent. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  9. ↑ "News Wrap: New York police arrest pro-Palestinian protesters who set up encampment". PBS NewsHour. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  10. ↑ Kornbluh, Jacob (April 20, 2024). "Rep. Ilhan Omar 'enormously proud' of daughter suspended from Barnard for anti-Israel activity". The Forward. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ Cassel, Emily (September 25, 2019). "Isra Hirsi: The Climate Activist". City Pages . Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  12. ↑ Holthaus, Eric (March 13, 2019). "Ilhan Omar's 16-year-old daughter is co-leading the Youth Climate Strike". Grist . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Unscripted And Unstoppable: Youth Climate Activist Isra Hirsi". Teva Footwear . October 10, 2019. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  14. ↑ Burton, Nylah (October 23, 2020). "Isra Hirsi Wants You To Join The Climate Strike On September 20" . Essence. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  15. ↑ "MNHSD state board for 2018-2019". Facebook .
  16. ↑ "6 Exceptional Young, Female Activists Recognized for Environmental Leadership". Sustainable Brands. September 16, 2019. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Bet Digital Celebrates Black Excellence with New Original Editorial Series". Chicago Defender . February 7, 2020. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  18. ↑ Versano, Carlo (April 18, 2024). "Ilhan Omar's daughter suspended from Barnard over pro-Palestinian protest". Newsweek. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  19. ↑ Chan, Melissa (April 18, 2024). "Rep. Ilhan Omar's daughter among students suspended by Barnard College for refusing to leave pro-Gaza encampment" . Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Isra Hirsi Doesn't Know What Columbia Expected From the Palestine Protests". Teen Vogue. April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
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