We're 49 days out from the September 3rd primary, but who's counting? Well, we are, because time is precious! This weekend, the candidates running for State Representative in the 35th Middlesex were invited to a Question and Answer forum with the Malden Democratic City Committee. We each had ten minutes to speak and answer questions, and with so much to say and little time to say it, I wanted to be very intentional about how we used the time. What pushed me into the political sphere? What kept me there? What do voters not yet know about me? What am I hearing from residents the most? What is the most compelling case for my candidacy for those not yet tuned in, and how can they feel welcomed with open arms?
As I was preparing with my team and deciding how to begin the remarks, I couldn't help but think about how I got here.
For over a decade, I have served our community in various ways, engaged in coalition building, and served as the first line of defense for many marginalized communities predominately through the interfaith space. Temples, Mosques, and Churches held space for a diverse community representing all walks of life, creating safe and welcoming havens that empowered those who have been disadvantaged by society.
This shifted in 2016 when the heightened political rhetoric led to the deliberate targeting and otherization of marginalized communities across the country.
My oldest son, who was eight at the time, came home from school crying. He told me how children at school “didn’t like Muslims”, and that when Trump was elected, “he’d get rid of us all.”
My heart broke. We had never felt our lack of representation more keenly than at that moment. I then realized that our community was being neglected within an entire sphere of influence - the public sphere. First, as a mama bear, and second as a Muslim woman, I had to do something.
So I joined the Malden Democratic City Committee which led me to serve a term on the State Committee. I volunteered with Yes On Three, preserving the rights of trans individuals to exist in public places according to their identity. I coordinated to pass the Fair Share Amendment. I worked closely with unions, ranging from teachers to Uber drivers, to stand for better working conditions and better wages. I held educational workshops in the local mosques on the difficult subjects of LGBTQ rights and women’s reproductive rights as some Muslims are more socially conservative in their views. Through listening, learning, and engaging, I continued to dedicate myself to this mission of unifying my neighbors through our shared vision for a brighter future.
In 2022, we worked diligently to engage with neighbors all across the district and built up a true coalition that reflected our beautiful, diverse community.
Together, we came just 50 votes shy. Our campaign made history by running for this seat - challenging decades of rules and norms and bringing a community together in a way that residents hadn’t seen. When reflecting upon that race, it proved that Medford and Malden not only demanded change for the better but demanded that someone else lead the way.
While last year was not without its challenges for me, I stand before you today victorious in my battle against breast cancer and in remission, as a fighter, running for State Representative. I had to come to terms with how much my life had changed, and what my mind and body had just been through. But then I remembered my son’s cries and I remembered the stories of family and friends who were stuck in violence overseas, and working families here struggling with the rising inflation. I could not sit idly by. It was not an option for me. These residents and my community rallied my spirit to continue to lift this torch - despite wars abroad and discrimination here at home.
Now in 2024, with the experience and relationships we possess, the energy for our movement is strong. I know we can win. Many had reached out and pledged that if I ran again, we would have their vote. So we kept the list, checked it twice, and those pledges have been holding true.
However, it's not always about what we’ve done, but rather what we’re going to do. It is our responsibility as candidates to draw a distinction and paint a positive vision.
As a mother of three young children in our public schools, I will fight to ensure their education and their educators receive the investment they deserve for our future.
I will work with my colleagues to give municipalities the tools they need to tackle the affordability crisis so that no child suffers from homelessness like I did.
I will join hands with my neighbors to bring accountability to our state government by holding our lawmakers to the same standards of transparency that we mandate at the local level. It is time that we tackle the culture of complacency in the statehouse, and treat these many vital issues with the urgency they demand.
I would never vote for a budget that provided relief to the wealthiest Massachusetts residents while our working-class families struggle to make ends meet. I am a reliable vote for government transparency and will end the culture of complacency amongst politicians. I am a reliable vote for protecting the rights of women and our LGBTQIA+ siblings and will fight to expand healthcare and safeguards for all. This is more than some can promise.
When you vote for me, not only will it be for strong, proactively inclusive leadership, but also making history by electing the first woman to hold this seat since it was created and by electing the first Muslim to the Statehouse in the history of our Commonwealth.
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