Rep. Ilhan Omar given public servant award for 'courage in the face of anti-Muslim bigotry' after Boebert feud

"Squad" member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was named the "American Muslim Public Servant of 2021" after accepting the award Saturding evening at a virtual annual gala hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

CAIR, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said in a press release that Omar was awarded for "her commitment to public service and courage in the face of anti-Muslim bigotry from fellow members of Congress."

"The past week has reminded us that we still have a long way to go before anti-Muslim hate and bigotry is fully recognized and punished in our poltical discourse," Omar stated at the livestreamed gala. "But it is also a reminder for us that when we use our voices, when we advocate for our basic rights as Muslims in this country and as Americans, people will rally behind us."

Omar said that "for far too long, rhetoric like Lauren Boebert's has been a routine part of our political discourse both in the United States and around the world."

"The only way we will root it out is by using our voices and by speaking out as loudly as we can against it. We will not win the fight for our civil liberties, for our civil rights, and for our human rights by staying quiet and by not speaking out," Omar stated. "We will win them by organizing and building solidarity for an America that respects everyone's rights regardless of religion."

The event's theme was "Turning the Tide, Building a Just Future," intending to show support for Omar amid "bigoted attacks." Virtual attendees and keynote speakers celebrated CAIR's impact in America for the past 27 years and the national organization's shared vision for social justice.

Omar was also joined by Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), Islamic studies scholar Omar Suleiman, and civil rights activist Linda Sarsour.

"Representative Omar has time and again proven her deep dedication to public service," said CAIR executive director Nihad Awad in a press statement. "Her work representing the interests not only of her constituents but of the American people as a whole serves as an example to our community and to the nation."

The CAIR leader said Omar has "shown tremendous courage in the face of constant attacks from anti-Muslim bigots both inside and outside of Congress, but she has not let the hatred of bigots stop her from serving the American people."

Awad also urged community members and public officials to condemn Islamophobia and demand action from Congress to "counter the hate and bigotry that is being allowed to fester within its walls."

Saturday's award comes in light of Omar's recent feud with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), who joked in a viral video that surfaced over Thanksgiving weekend that the progressive Muslim congresswoman was a terrorist threat.

Amid mounting pressure from the left, Boebert has since apologized for the comment deemed Islamophobic and offensive to Muslims:

"I apologize to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep. Omar. I have reached out to her office to speak with her directly. There are plenty of policy differences to focus on without this unnecessary distraction."

CAIR issued a statement on Nov. 26, calling Boebert's remarks "disgusting" and asking Congress to censure the congresswoman. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was also named as a lawmaker who "targeted" Omar with "bigoted anti-Muslim statements." No action against either congresswoman has been taken.