Welcome back to the Unify Brief, where we track the latest developments facing our nation.
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked during Minneapolis Town Hall
On Jan. 27, during a Town Hall in Minneapolis, Representative Ilhan Omar was attacked by a man who tried to spray her with a substance. Shortly before the attack, Omar was speaking against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in Minnesota and calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.
The suspect was arrested and was charged by the Department of Justice on Jan. 29. Omar was unharmed and continued speaking at the event.
Omar has been a target of President Trump since his first presidency. In July 2019, Trump tweeted, “Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came,” referring to Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley. Three of those women were born in the United States, while Omar is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
National: Man arrested after Ilhan Omar attacked during town hall in Minneapolis (NBC News)
Local: Man arrested after spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis town hall (Aurora Sentinel)
What other college campuses have to say: Man arrested after spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar with apple cider vinegar (The Minnesota Daily)
Aurora Public Schools and Adams County Schools cancel classes due to ICE Protests
On Jan. 30, Aurora Public Schools and Adams County Schools cancelled their Friday classes due to anticipated staff and student absences for a nationwide protest against ICE.
The nationwide protest was framed as a strike, where participants were expected to refrain from work, school and shopping. These demonstrations took place after mounting frustrations surrounding the Minneapolis shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Aurora Public Schools announced that Friday would be a professional release day, replacing their previously planned off day on Feb. 6, while Adams County Schools decided to make it a teacher and staff work day.
National: Protesters close schools and stores during a nationwide strike against Trump’s immigration policies (AP News)
Local: Aurora Public Schools, Adams 14 cancel class Friday over staff absences expected on day of nationwide protest (Denver 7)
What other college campuses have to say: Dozens of local businesses to close Friday during nationwide ICE protest (Daily Emerald)
Don Lemon arrested over anti-ICE protest at church
On Jan. 30, journalist Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles and charged after attending and covering an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota on Jan. 18. Cities Church, where the protest took place, has a pastor who is the head of an ICE field office. This information ignited the event.
In a statement, Lemon’s attorney Abbe Lowell highlights Lemon’s 30-year experience as a journalist, stating that he is, and always has been, constitutionally protected to report, even if Lemon, who has previously been employed by CNN, is no longer associated with a news organization.
“The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work,” Lowell said via Lemon’s Instagram.
National: Don Lemon arrested after covering Minnesota church protest (CBS News)
Local: Journalist Don Lemon has been arrested after he covered a Minnesota church protest (Aurora Sentinel)
What other colleges have to say: Columbia Journalism School’s Response to the Arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort (Columbia Journalism School)
Take Action:
At DU:
- Attend a Club for Collective Liberation meeting
- Attend “Immigration Law in Turbulent Times” on Feb. 5 at Sturm Hall 248 from 4-6 pm
On Your Own:
- Review ‘Know Your Rights’
