Isra Hirsi, who was arrested for refusing to disperse from Columbia’s lawn during an encampment, also promoted a fundraiser for a man charged with setting NYPD vehicles on fire
The daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) this week shared defenses of and fundraisers for a Hamas-supporting thug who pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime charge and another rioter charged with setting police vehicles on fire.
Isra Hirsi, who graduated from Barnard College earlier this year, posted two Instagram stories in support of Tarek Bazrouk—a self-described “Jew hater” responsible for a string of assaults against pro-Israel counter-protesters in New York City since 2024—and pro-Hamas activist Jakhi McCray, who allegedly caused $800,000 in damage through torching cop cars.
Bazrouk, sentenced to 17 months in prison earlier this week, attacked Jewish counter-protesters at three different anti-Israel demonstrations in late 2024 and early 2025. The Instagram post Hirsi shared frames his sentencing as an effort to silence “resistance.”
“We reject Tarek’s sentencing as anything more than political theatre where extreme sentences are imposed as a method to suppress pro-Palestine activism,” the post Hirsi shared reads. “We reject the notion that his actions were a hate crime—Palestinians have the right to fight back against their oppressors … Tarek is only guilty of resisting his oppressors. His sentence of 17 months in prison and three years probation serves no purpose beyond crushing dissent and resistance under the leveraged language of so-called ‘hate crimes.'”
The post Hirsi shared also displays a link to a Bazrouk fan page that includes a letter to Judge Richard M. Berman demanding Bazrouk’s release and a fundraiser that has already collected almost $8,000.
Bazrouk had initially faced up to 30 years for his string of crimes before striking a plea deal. He apologized to some of his victims while in court, saying, “I’m sorry, guys, and I hope that you forgive me for my actions.”
When law enforcement searched Bazrouk’s apartment, officers found $750,000 in cash and an assortment of weapons. The 20-year-old activist has a criminal history that goes beyond assaulting protesters, with a rap sheet including robbery, other assaults, and operating a drug factory in Hartford, Conn., Fox News reported.
Bazrouk wasn’t the only shady character Hirsi vouched for this week. She shared a similar appeal on behalf of McCray, who allegedly set fire to 10 New York Police Department vehicles and a trailer inside a parking lot. He has also been linked to the destruction of a statue at Columbia University and other instances of vandalism, in addition to arson.
“Jakhi had a hearing at 100 Centre St, for two state-level cases, the first regarding alleged graffiti at Columbia University, and the second concerning a protest-related arrest at an ICE rally,” the post reads. “While the ICE related case was dismissed, his Columbia case has been adjourned to December 18th for decisions on whether or not to move to trial.”
The message Hirsi shared notably omits McCray’s more serious charges, as does a fundraiser Hirsi promoted that describes McCray as a “committed organizer in the Palestine and abolition movements.”
If convicted, McCray would face a minimum of five years in prison.
Hirsi frequently uses her social media accounts to promote anti-Israel and terror-supporting activism. She has plugged fundraisers for Columbia radicals like Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi, both of whom faced deportation efforts from the Trump administration over their pro-Hamas organizing.
“The Squad” member’s daughter was herself arrested and suspended from Barnard after she refused an order from Columbia to vacate the university’s lawn during the pro-Hamas encampments in spring 2024. She has since struggled to find employment, resorting to selling her clothing on Depop.
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