6 minutes agoFirst Muslim woman to U.S. Congress
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)Former Democrat lawmaker in the state of Michigan, Rashida Tlaib, has defeated five challengers in that state's 13th district in the preliminary elections for the American Congress. As American Voice correspondent Kane Farabach reports, who has closely followed her campaign, Mrs. Tlaib becomes the first Muslim woman to serve in [...]
Former Democrat lawmaker in the state of Michigan, Rashida Tlaib, has defeated five challengers in that state's 13th district in the preliminary elections for the American Congress. As American Voice correspondent Kane Farabach reports, who has closely followed her campaign, Mrs. Tlaib becomes the first Muslim woman to serve at the U.S. Congress. T
Ahlam Jbara lives in Chicago in Illinois, six hours from Detroit, which means he cannot vote in the government's preliminary elections. But the American Congress race in Michigan District 13 was very important and personal to him. So she traveled six hours by car to volunteer for Rashida Tlaib's campaign on election day.
As an American Muslim, as an Arab American Palestinian... I'm her, she's me. ”
Although they are elections in Michigan, Mrs. Tlaib's campaign for Congress has historical and nationwide implications, primarily for American Muslim women, who see her victory as an opportunity for the future.
“just texting on the phone from young girls; once I got one from New York, it gives you a lot of excitement”, says candidate Rasida Tlaib.
“It has formed a new generation of young people who want to run for positions”, says volunteer Ahlam Jbara.
“ ... it is attracting young people but others who have become Americans and who have not voted before, as well as Americans themselves who never voted because they had no faith in their government”, Ahlam Jbara says.
These votes brought about change for Mrs. Tlaib, something she and her supporters noticed only after a long wait for the results of the extremely narrow race.
Although overwhelmed by emotion when she heard the result, Mrs. Tlaib seized the opportunity to talk about the importance of this historic moment for her family.
I want to thank my mother for being from the West Coast, and the whole family is looking forward to the TV, and I want to thank my grandmother and all my family in Palestine who are watching TV and they're left to win this” choice.
Since there are no resistance from the Republicans in the November elections, preliminary elections were the only challenge for Mrs. Tlaib before taking an oath at the U.S. Congress, a role many American Muslims are looking forward to and hopefully.
They feel Rashid represents them. Rashid will be their face and voice in Congress. Being Rasida in Congress, we're as Americans as you and you”, Chicago volunteer says.
Soon there may be others like her. Somalezo-American lawmaker Ilhan Omar competes for Congress in Minnesota State on August 14th and can serve with Rashida Tlaib at the U.S. Congress.
