A 34-year-old Washington, D.C. banking attorney. A 68-year-old retired office assistant who immigrated from war-torn Afghanistan. What do these women have in common?
Some snippets from the Burlington Free Press coverage of the Sanders campaign's national house party event illustrate some of the ways Sen. Sanders's platform is motivating folks from diverse walks of life to join a political campaign for the first time.
Sanders kicks off national volunteer effort
Marcelino’s wife, Manisha Sharma, arranged the event, not knowing at the time that Sanders would later ask to join them. Sanders picked her particular event because of the diverse neighborhood where they live, according to his campaign.
Sharma had planned a small sit-down dinner for five neighbors, but the event quickly grew to 25 and she had to move it to her neighbor’s larger apartment.
Sharma, 34, said she’s never participated in political organizing. A political independent and a banking attorney specializing in financial regulation and consumer compliance, she’s worked for several federal banking regulators and has consulted for large banking clients. She said she was drawn to Sanders for his banking and financial regulatory agenda.
“What Bernie’s trying to do when he says ‘breaking up big banks’ is making them more manageable,” said Sharma, who advises banks and consumers on technology solutions. “They can’t see their toes beyond their belly. I think it’s so necessary.”
At the end of the party, she presented Sanders with a photo of Mahatma Gandhi signed by attendees, with the quote: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Sharma’s grandfather was a freedom fighter with the Indian independence leader, who also fought economic oppression.
Vermonters gather at house parties
Hajera Osmani hosted the gathering in the common room at her condominium. It was the first time Osmani had participated in a political campaign.
"I want Bernie for my children, grandchildren and for the future of America," Osmani said.
Osmani and her family immigrated to the United States from Afghanistan in 1981 during the Soviet occupation of her native country. She said she left her home country out of fear for her lives and the lives of her family.
Now retired from her job as an office assistant at Manchester Community College in Connecticut, the 68-year-old decided to participate in Sanders' campaign after seeing the senator launch his presidential campaign on the Lake Champlain waterfront May 26 near downtown Burlington.
"I have respect for Hillary Clinton, and I wanted her to win," Osmani said. "When I heard Bernie at the waterfront, I changed my mind."
Sanders' free public college plan and calls for more income equality helped win her over, she said.
"Afghanistan was a very poor country, but I had free education," Osmani said. "When I moved here, I thought the United States was a dream. I cannot believe in a country like United States of America students graduate with debt, and people live in poverty."