4 hours agoA Somali-American woman ready to win in the election for the American Congress
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)Minestot representative Ilhan Omar is expected to make history in American politics Tuesday as a favourite to win a seat at the American Congress, becoming the first former refugee and the first woman from Africa to join the House of Representatives. Lady Omar says using politics to influence positively and [...]
36-year-old Ihan Omar came to Minnesota 20 years ago, after leaving Somalia involved in war and spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya.
It is expected to easily win over its Republican challenger Jennifer Zielinski in Minnesota, a democratic bastion.
If Miss Omar wins on Tuesday, she can go to the House of Representatives along with another Muslim faith woman, Democrat Rasida Tlaib of Detroit, who is expected to win a seat in the House of Representatives.
Mrs Omar says that if she goes to Washington, she will face President Donald Trump, who she says is promoting policies that prevent people like her from coming to America.
These policies are very dangerous. I think they go against this country's ideal. I hope to go to Washington with colleagues who share the same approach as I do, so that we can put the president ahead of responsibility for the policies that are promoting, which spread fear and division”, says Ilhan Omar, a candidate for the House of Representatives, reports VOA.
In 2016, Ilhan Omar made history when she became part of the Minnesota House of Representatives and became the first Somali-American lawmaker of her country and the largest Somali-American community in the United States.
The possibility of using politics as a means to make positive changes has been what inspired me to get involved in politics and be engaged. So has the possibility of expanding our democracy to all and competing with the goal of drafting positive-influencing policies in people's lives”
In a year with a record number of women competing for public office, Ms Omari inspired many Muslim women across the country, including Hodan Hassan, who is running for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
“Arsyet why many women are competing are two: first connected to movement # METOO and second with Donald Trump. He constantly does not respect women, so both of these reasons together have caused many women to change the status quo, and one of the ways to achieve the difference is to run for official function”.
The elections for Congress come at a critical time as the United States faces a strong political divide. Ms. Hassan says politicians should unite the country and spread more unifying messages.
