Rashida Tlaib will enter history as the first US-Palestinian woman in Congress



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"He was talking about Donald Trump," Tlaib said in a recent interview, factually describing what her eldest son Adam had told her when she had won her race to represent Michigan's 13th congressional district .

Tlaib will go down in history as the first US-Palestinian woman to sit in Congress. She and the new democratic representative, Ilhan Omar, of Minnesota, will also be the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress.

When the new Congress starts, Tlaib will have a high-level platform on Capitol Hill to confront the president and attempt to set the agenda for the new Democratic majority in the House. The question is, what will she do when she arrives in Washington?

Tlaib has already broken glass barriers and ceilings before

The 42-year-old already had "a first status". She is the first of 14 children born to Palestinian immigrant parents and the first of her family to graduate from high school and college. She was also the first Muslim woman to sit in the state legislature of Michigan.

"When I won, it was only a moment of light at that time that was dark enough for many of us," Tlaib said, citing his election . at the congress.

  Fadwa Tlaib, an aunt of Rashida Tlaib, shows the young Rashida in a 1987 photo with her mother Fatima and her brother Nader at the family home in Beit Ur al-Foqa village, West Bank, on August 8 . 2018.
The mid-term elections of 2018 resulted in an "incredible number of" firsts, "she added, highlighting the election of other women who have marked the History, such as new Democratic representatives Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland. the first Native American women elected to Congress.

These victories have created a sense of "hope," recalls Tlaib, "reminiscent of America in which we want to live."

Although she seems optimistic about the possibility of her political future, Tlaib also seems worried about the negative reaction that will accompany it.

"My only existence, I realize, regardless of my position, even if I did not say anything after having won, just a complete silence on my part, I would always be a target", she said. because I exist. "

Tlaib Plans to Commemorate Swearing With Palestinian Dress and Quran

Tlaib stated that she would wear a Palestinian robe called a thobe for her swearing-in ceremony and that she wanted to be sworn in.

The next congressman said that he had considered the possibility of using Thomas Jefferson's Quran or his, qualifying the Qur'an from the ancient President of "Symbol", stating that "Islam has been part of American history for a long time."

Tlaib stated that people were "surprised" when she told them that Jefferson had a Quran "But I like it," she said, adding, "I like the fact that we reject the stereotypes that we are new to this country."

  Rashida Tlaib shows off his mother the thobe, a traditional Palestinian dress, in Detroit on August 10, 2018.

The decision to wear the garment, says Tlaib, "means the world "for his mother, who came to the United States at the age of 20.

"All children of immigrant parents know what it means when (…) their greatest hope is to want us to succeed, but they do not want us to lose part of who we are" , she said.

The "Challenge" of the High Cost of Living in Washington

At the end of December, Tlaib stated that she had not yet made any decision as to her place of residence in Washington.

"I actually stay with friends temporarily until I get a sense of the neighborhood that suits me best," she said last month.

But Tlaib was frustrated by the high cost of some of the available options.

  Rashida Tlaib reacts after pulling a number in the elected members' lottery at Capitol Hill, Washington, on November 30, 2018. Each member of the newly elected House chooses a numbered bullet when called by surname in alphabetical order

Describing some of the questions she had to ask herself, she said, "Do I have a car? No, I can not afford it. Do I live? Of course, I'd like that, but every time I look at Craigslist or different types of websites, it's close to $ 2,800, the closer we get to Capitol Hill. . "

" It's a challenge for me, "she said when discussing housing costs in the nation's capital.

" I've never worked at DC. I have visited and participated in marches there, at congressional meetings with various groups for which I have worked, but I still see him as a very stranger, "she said. [19659028] "Everyone does not stop saying:" Oh, you're moving ". and I answer "No, for me it's here that I go to work". "She said. "My house will always be in Detroit."

What will Tlaib work with or against the democratic establishment?

Tlaib does not seem to be afraid of controversy – and the question to what extent she will end up working with or not in conflict with senior Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill

] Shortly after his own election, Tlaib issued a statement of support when the progressive Justice Democrats launched a campaign to recruiting primary progressive challengers to face the current Democratic members of Congress.

She rallied to a political cause. far outside the mainstream Democratic when she said that she supported the controversial Boycot t, Movement of divestment and sanctions against Israel
  On October 5, 2018, Rashida Tlaib calls in a campaign office located in Dearborn, Michigan.
Tlaib recently told The Intercept that she wanted to lead a Congressional delegation to the West Bank, where his grandmother lives.

When asked to make the trip, Tlaib "When we begin to meet the humanitarian needs of Israelis and Palestinians … when we do not think that the other person deserves less or less I really think we will get closer to peace. "

"People respect that," she said, before adding, "of course, there are enemies to hate."

Despite the differences, Tlaib plans to support Pelosi as Speaker of the House.

There are, however, signs that Tlaib is willing to collaborate with the democratic establishment in Congress.

During her campaign, Tlaib stated at one point that she would probably not vote for Nancy Pelosi, a long-time Democratic leader of the House, who is now about to become President of the House of the new Congress.

But Tlaib finally voted for Pelosi at the election of a Democratic party in the House in order to choose a presidential candidate and is now considering voting for her in the last vote in the floor. .

"I voted for her in caucus, I will vote for her on the floor of the house," she said.

  Rashida Tlaib points to her:

Tlaib pointed out that no alternative candidate to Pelosi is safe. was presented and stated that she had had the opportunity to meet the veteran Democratic leader and speak with her about her own priorities.

"I had a meeting and I talked to him about poverty and the fact that it's important to raise the middle class," said Tlaib, whose congressional district is ranked third among the poorest countries in the country, said.

"I wanted to be heard," she said, "sometimes it meant that you were going to vote … I would not walk into a room and just give up that without at least m & # Make sure that she knew that poverty was an important problem for us. "

When asked if she believed what she had to say that resonated with Pelosi, Talib replied brutally: "I do not know."

"I hope so," she said. "I'll see in the new Congress."

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