Isra Hirsi
Isra Hirsi | |
---|---|
Born | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | February 22, 2003
Education | Barnard College |
Known for | Environmental 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.
Early life and education
[edit]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 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
[edit]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] In 2019, she won a Brower Youth Award.[15] That same year, Hirsi received the Voice of the Future Award.[7] In 2020, Hirsi was placed on BET's "Future 40" list.[16]
On April 18, 2024, Hirsi was suspended from Barnard College for taking part in what Barnard College claimed to be an "unauthorised encampment"[17] protest on the property of Columbia University in which there were calls for Columbia to divest from Israel.[18] She was also arrested by the NYPD later that day and released that evening.[19][20]
Authored articles
[edit]- Fernands, Maddy; Hirsi, Isra; Coleman, Haven; Villaseñor, Alexandria (March 7, 2019). "Adults won't take climate change seriously. So we, the youth, are forced to strike". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
- Hirsi, Isra (March 25, 2019). "The climate movement needs more people like me". Grist.
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ "40 under 40 Government and Politics: Isra Hirsi". Fortune. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ "Isra Hirsi". Brower Youth Awards. September 4, 2019. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ a b "Isra Hirsi". The International Congress Of Youth Voices. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Hall, Richard (April 18, 2024). "Ilhan Omar's daughter suspended by Columbia University for Gaza protest". Independent. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ "News Wrap: New York police arrest pro-Palestinian protesters who set up encampment". PBS NewsHour. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Cassel, Emily (September 25, 2019). "Isra Hirsi: The Climate Activist". City Pages. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Editor, Carlo Versano; News, Live (April 18, 2024). "Ilhan Omar's daughter suspended from Barnard over pro-Palestinian protest". Newsweek. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ Hall, Richard (April 18, 2024). "Ilhan Omar's daughter suspended by Columbia University for Gaza protest". Independent. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Nast, Condé (April 21, 2024). "Isra Hirsi Doesn't Know What Columbia Expected From the Palestine Protests". Teen Vogue. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
External links
[edit]- 2003 births
- Living people
- Writers from Minneapolis
- American women environmentalists
- American environmentalists
- American child activists
- American human rights activists
- Activists from Minnesota
- American people of Somali descent
- American climate activists
- American communists
- Youth climate activists
- American women civil rights activists
- Barnard College alumni
- 21st-century African-American women writers
- South High School (Minnesota) alumni
- 21st-century American women writers
- 21st-century African-American writers
- 21st-century American writers