Director of anti-racism center says you either stand with Ilhan Omar or you're a racist; 'There is no middle ground'

It’s hard to believe it was just over a month ago that Democratic leadership in the House was wringing its hands over what to do about freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar, who kept saying anti-Semitic things. Finally, the Democrats drew up a resolution that didn’t name Omar but did condemn anti-Semitic speech in Congress.

And we all know how that went: Omar went on to vote for what was originally intended to be a censure of her anti-Semitic remarks and was rewarded with laughs and hugs. Instead, the House adopted a resolution that rejected all forms of hate speech, including Islamophobia.

And now you’re Islamophobic if you criticize Omar for her anti-Semitism so that all worked out well.

American University professor Ibram X. Kendi, who is also director of the school’s Antiracist Research and Policy Center, confirms that if you do not stand with Omar, you stand with Islamophobia and racism — and there is no middle ground. It goes without saying.

It goes without saying that #IStandWithIlhanOmar. And anyone who does not stands with @IlhanMN stands with Islamophobia, with racism, with politicians deploying lies to inflame racial and religious terror in the country. There is no middle ground in this struggle.

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 13, 2019

There is no middle ground in the struggle against bigotry. The sideline is behind the lines of bigots.

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 13, 2019

The bigots have cast themselves as striving against bigotry, while they have cast those striving against bigotry as the bigots. The bigots have cast themselves as the victims and cast the victims as the bigots. But nothing new there: that is the history of bigotry.

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 13, 2019

Congresswoman Omar is not perfect. I’m not. I’ve expressed bigotry. Confessed my mistakes. None of us are perfect. But many of us act as if we are.

What are we striving against, and for? Her record makes clear she is striving against bigotry, striving for a world of equity.

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 13, 2019

Nobody should stand with her when she makes comments making it seem like 9/11 was an event that didn’t matter when in reality people died because of terrorists and these people should be respected and remembered and the attack should not be classified as “somebody did something”

— Colin McEvoy (@colinmcevoy21) April 13, 2019

You’re exaggerating things dude, all that happened was some guy said something

— Trenton loomis (@LoomisTrenton) April 13, 2019

Actually, this is a middle ground fallacy. Just saying there’s no middle ground doesn’t make it so. You can disagree with two people at once. 🙂

— Joel Jupp (@joeljupp) April 13, 2019

Black and white choice you push here Ibram. Hmm, this sounds like radical Islam to me, convert or die, there is no middle ground.

— Dr. Arganot ?????? (@proctologistIL) April 13, 2019

There is ALWAYS a middle ground. If you dont think so, then you are part of the problem

— Trump is (not) a Russian Asset (@esjay100) April 13, 2019

There is definitely middle ground. The fact that you draw lines in the sand is part of the problem.

— Tom Griffin (@tgriff716) April 13, 2019

There is always middle ground. That is how a democracy operates. I read a lot of “buzzwords” in your tweet but your not saying much. Omar does not represent all of the “Islamic” world. She is just one person not immune from criticism.

— Jim Bennette (@bennette_jim) April 13, 2019

I like @IlhanMN but totally disagree with your statement. To equate the lack of support for one individual to being racist toward an entire group is simply obnoxious rhetoric (and a bit stalinistic…..and there is no middle ground on that point)

— Kenneth Fernandez (@KenFernandezPHD) April 13, 2019

This is peak Twitter. Present a laughably false dichotomy, get hundreds of "likes" from mindless tribe members to reinforce this ridiculous take, and revel in your pseudointellectualism. https://t.co/fx0a8FbNsg

— J.R. Gillette 10♣️ (@JR_Gillette) April 13, 2019

Frightening (but not surprising) to know you represent higher learning in this country.

— good ass dad (@EvanInTheBay) April 13, 2019

Dude, you make a living fomenting hatred and racism. #yawn

— D2GLS ?? (@D2GLS) April 13, 2019

This all-or-nothing BS from the crazy Left is what largely got @realDonaldTrump elected the first time. The first time – because it will happen twice, thank you very much. ?

— Wilsongirl66 (@wilsongirl66) April 13, 2019

Wise thoughts in this thread. https://t.co/zEVMr2PafJ

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) April 13, 2019

Thanks, Jamil, we think we managed to curate the best ones.

Related:

UH OH: Libs are noticing that Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and other elected Dems aren't defending Ilhan Omar's 9/11 comments https://t.co/D86HpL21Dd

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 13, 2019