WHY ILHAN OMAR DESERVES OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT

Chicago, IL I AfroPunk

Eyewitness Palestine delegate Kristian D-B wrote a piece featured in AfroPunk on first-term congresswoman Ilhan Omar making waves in Washington Dc.

In this fraught political moment, Ilhan Omar is deserving of our love and here are a few reasons why:

“Her existence is resistance. This country was settled by white men and intended to be run by white men. As a hijab-wearing, Black, Muslim refugee woman, Ilhan Omar represents backgrounds that the founding fathers never intended to participate in the political process. Born in Somalia, Ilhan’s family resettled in the US as refugees when she was a teenager. While Ilhan notes that she does not come from the experience of slavery that many of us share, as an African she lives under our shared struggle against racism. Beyond just being a Black woman, her attitude towards the powerful illustrates that she is a friend to everyday people.

She is unafraid to take on power. Ilhan has taken on one of the most touchy issues of our time: the Israeli occupation of Palestine. She is one of only two Congressional representatives to support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel in favor of Palestinian human rights. The other is Palestinian-American and fellow Muslim Rashida Tlaib from Detroit. Last month, Ilhan drew condemnation for stating that the Israel lobby group AIPAC exerts an influence on US support for Israel.”

You can read the full article at the link below.

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