Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing renewed backlash after she deleted a Juneteenth message referencing slavery in the U.S., following public criticism drawing attention to slavery that still exists in Somalia, the country where she was born.
The controversy unfolded Thursday when “The Squad” member posted a message stating, “160 years ago on June 19, 1865, slavery ended in this country. Today, we celebrate Black freedom, resilience, and achievement, and continue the work to root out systematic racism from our policies and institutions.”
That post was later deleted after conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman publicly called her out, tweeting, “Somalia still has slaves. Ilhan should go fight to free her own people.”
His response quickly gained traction online, prompting widespread discussion.
While the original message was taken down, a second Juneteenth post from Omar remains on her official social media channels.
That statement avoids direct references to slavery and instead focuses on broader themes.
“On Juneteenth, we remember that freedom is not always swift but it is always worth the fight,” she wrote. “It’s a powerful reminder of how long justice can take to reach those who deserve it most.”
“Today, we celebrate Black freedom, resilience, and achievement, and continue the