John,

“What was a calm and respectful protest was quickly escalated by police officers dressed in riot gear. They surrounded us at a moment when we were supporting students who were conducting prayer,” explained Ohio State Rep. Munira Abdullahi, who went to support students protesting genocide this past spring.

Speaking out against the police violence she experienced, Munira wrote: “I was grabbed by my headscarf. I was pushed toward the ground onto students. Ultimately, I sustained painful bruising around my ribs and midsection.”

The first Muslim woman and first Somali American to serve in Ohio’s State Legislature, Munira is also the youngest serving member of the Legislature where she isn’t backing down in the face of Republican control. She’s fighting for our fundamental rights, including the right to free speech and the right to reproductive care. Munira is also pushing for the rights of hijab-wearers who are experiencing increased harassment due to Islamophobic and anti-Arab hate—like the 7-year-old Yemeni child who experienced a horrific attack in my district last week.

Too many lawmakers have spread racism and dehumanization this past year. We need more representatives in public office, like Ohio State Rep. Munira Abdullahi, who see the humanity of all of their constituents.

State Rep. Abdullahi is committed to saving lives at home and abroad. As a type-1 diabetic, she is deeply passionate about ensuring healthcare and medications are affordable so others don’t have to endure the same struggles she faced with overwhelming medical bills. In her first term in office, she introduced legislation to cap the price of insulin, as well as policies for gun safety, workers’ rights, and affordable housing. Unlike so many lawmakers who are putting our tax dollars toward war, Munira is investing in life.

Will you chip into Ohio State Rep. Munira Abdullahi’s re-election campaign so she can keep advocating for the rights and dignity we all deserve? In Ohio, absentee ballots have been mailed and early in-person voting has started, so every day is Election Day for the next three weeks.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately, with 100% going directly to Rep. Munira Abdullahi

Despite serving in Ohio’s Republican-controlled state government, Munira has won on progressive issues. For example, she helped secure $30 million to increase access to affordable housing. In her first term last year, she was elected as the Vice Chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus where she’s working on issues such as the gender pay gap, maternal mortality rates, and reproductive rights.

But she’s up against powerful racists, like Ohio’s Attorney General, who hasn’t denounced Trump and Vance’s lies that have threatened Haitian immigrants in his state. Munira is speaking up for her Haitian neighbors and speaking out against the Ohio Secretary of State’s latest attempt to disenfranchise immigrants and refugees by removing them from the voting rolls. And of course she doesn’t take money from corporate PACs. Please donate to re-elect Ohio State Rep. Munira Abdullahi today.

Thank you for supporting candidates who are advocating for a government of, by, and for the people. Only by working together will we build the society we deserve, where all are free from oppression and able to thrive.

In solidarity,

Rashida

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rashida Tlaib
Date: Tue, Oct 15, 2024
Subject: Saving lives at home and abroad is an interconnected value
To: [email protected]

John,

This spring, State Rep. Munira Abdullahi was supporting Ohio State University students protesting genocide when police officers grabbed her hijab (headscarf) and pushed her to the ground, arresting peaceful students nearby.

She condemned the police violence and the violations of our rights, explaining: “The freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble are the basic fundamental freedoms guaranteed to us in the 1st amendment.”

The first Muslim woman and first Somali American to serve in Ohio’s State Legislature, Munira is standing up for our rights and pushing back against rising bigotry—including the targeting of women and girls who wear hijabs. Last week in my city of Detroit, a 7 year-old Yemeni girl who wears a hijab experienced a horrific attack when a man slit her throat. She is alive but traumatized, and so many of our neighbors are living in fear because lawmakers and media outlets keep spreading racist, Islamophobic hate.

In this time of increasing dehumanization, we need more people in public office who respect the shared humanity of all of their constituents, and who champion policies to save lives at home and abroad.

Ohio State Rep. Munira Abdullahi understands that we all deserve safety and human dignity. A Type-1 diabetic who’s experienced overwhelming medical costs, Munira has introduced legislation to cap the price of insulin—as well as gun safety policies and bills to protect workers’ rights. She helped secure wins like $30 million for affordable housing, despite serving in a Republican-controlled state government. This is what valuing life looks like.

Can you donate now to re-elect Ohio State Rep. Munira Abdullahi so she can keep pushing for human dignity and human rights at home and abroad?

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately, with 100% going directly to Rep. Munira Abdullahi

While serving as the youngest member of Ohio’s State Legislature, Rep. Abdullahi was elected Vice Chair of the Ohio Democratic Women’s Legislative Caucus, where she’s now pushing for reproductive rights and equal pay.

Unfortunately, Munira is up against a Republican-controlled state government. She’s joining progressive colleagues in fighting the state’s latest attack on people’s rights: Ohio’s Secretary of State is trying to take immigrants and refugees off the voting rolls.

To help her neighbors overcome barriers to voting and turn out to vote for statewide issues like a ballot initiative to end gerrymandering, State Rep. Abdullahi needs our grassroots support now.

Please donate now to re-elect Munira Abdullahi. Since early in-person voting has begun and absentee ballots have already been mailed out, every day is Election Day in Ohio for the next three weeks.

Thank you for continuing to build a society where everyone can thrive with equal rights and where everyone’s life is valued, no matter their ethnicity or faith or racial background. Together, we will keep pushing for the transformative changes our communities need.

With gratitude,

Rashida Tlaib