A one time Somali refugee and the daughter of Palestinian immigrants shared the historic distinction Tuesday of becoming the first two Muslim women elected to the US Congress.
Both women — Ilhan Omar, 37, and Rashida Tlaib, 42 — are Democrats from the Midwest and outspoken advocates of minority communities that have found themselves in the sights of US President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies.
Wohhooo! TWO Muslim American congresswomen officially WIN last night.
Congratulations to Rashida Tlaib out of Michigan, and Ilhan Omar out of Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/ZwR0LzSsyV
— Anasthasia Sadrach (@duchessnastya) November 7, 2018
Omar won a House seat in a strongly Democratic district in Minneapolis, Minnesota, succeeding Keith Ellison who was himself the first Muslim ever elected to Congress.
Tlaib’s victory was no surprise. The Detroit-born daughter of Palestinian immigrants – the eldest of 14 children – emerged as the winner of a Democratic primary for a seat vacated by John Conyers, a longtime liberal lion who stepped down in December amid sexual harassment allegations and failing health.
Last night Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib was elected to the United States Congress, making the first Palestinian American to be elected to this position. https://t.co/His6umjM47 pic.twitter.com/Px98Ch1ggW
— The IMEU (@theIMEU) November 7, 2018
With no Republican challenger in the race, Tlaib’s election on Tuesday became a formality.
During her tearful primary election victory speech in August, with her immigrant mother by her side, she said relatives in the West Bank were watching her success.
She said:
“It just shows how incredibly wonderful our country can be”.
(Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, PC, Social Media)
