With a stream of anti-Muslim attacks coming from the White House, Congress is on track to get its first two Muslim women members. That’s not entirely a coincidence, says Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib, one of those two women:
Then came Trump’s election, which prompted a “moment of darkness, fear and stillness” by American Muslims, she said. It wasn’t until the travel ban that there was “an eruption” and “all of a sudden people were starting to run for office,” said Tlaib.
It’s not just Tlaib, Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar, and the U.S. House, either:
There’s a resurgence in Muslims running for office nationally, with 29 in ongoing campaigns across 13 states and many of them already clearing primaries en route to the general election. With at least 105 American Muslims having filed papers this year, it’s a record since 2000, according to Jetpac.
That’s not going to fix all the damage that Trump and assorted other bigots are doing, but greater Muslim-American representation is a start.
Let's push for a more diverse American politics all around. Can you give $1 to each of these Daily Kos-endorsed candidates of color?
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