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Friends, We must continue making “good trouble.” This weekend, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Congressman John Lewis. Though he is, and will forever be, an icon in the fight for justice, he never sought the limelight. His humility, coupled with grace and determination, were the defining characteristics of his life. For five years, I was lucky enough to be a constituent of Rep. Lewis. I grew up in southeast Georgia and, in August 1986, I moved to Atlanta for graduate school at Emory University. That November, John Lewis was elected to his first term in office. I’ve long considered Congressman Lewis to be my representative in Congress and have felt a deep, abiding respect for his wisdom, vision, courage, and integrity. He has been our national custodian of justice, a truth teller who knew when and how to make “good trouble,” and a leader who has held fast to America’s moral compass, especially during these past four years. We mourn because we need his clarity of voice and vision now more than ever. Georgia is often labeled as a Southern state still weighed down by its legacy of slavery and racism. But this burden of oppression and injustice invariably gives birth to the fierce conviction necessary to address old wounds, renounce bitterness, and create pathways of light in the midst of darkness. Atlanta, Georgia — much like Montgomery, Alabama — was the crucible that birthed our passionate civil rights leaders: John Lewis, Andrew Young, Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Joseph Lowery, and Julian Bond. Now, as we work our way through unprecedented crises that few of us imagined for 2020, Virginians have the opportunity to pick up that moral torch that Congressman Lewis and others have left for us. We must recommit ourselves to that vision of equality, democracy, and equity that they labored to create.
Demanding justice and space for marginalized communities This past Monday, more than 3,000 participants nationwide participated in the Million Muslim Votes Summit, an effort to engage voters ahead of November’s elections. Just prior to my panel session, Vice President Joe Biden also addressed the event and committed himself to policies free from bigotry and discrimination. He vowed to overturn the “Muslim Ban” on Day One of his presidency, ending four years of xenophobia that target certain countries and that separate families. Yesterday, I joined a panel hosted by the South Asians for Biden organization to discuss the rise of anti-AAPI sentiment in the nation. We addressed the increase in hate crimes in general and the targeting of the South Asian community in particular. While my focus is on legislative actions that we can take to combat hate crimes, we must recognize that meaningful change can occur through a combination of efforts: education, dialogue, and community policies focused on inclusive action.
Continuing our work on criminal justice reform
COVID-19 and Schools in District 10
Final thoughts Please remember, if you need assistance or if you want to schedule a phone or conference call, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. You can fill out this form to request a meeting. We can also be reached by email at [email protected]. — Ghazala
Friends of Ghazala Hashmi
PO Box 72923 Richmond VA 23235 United States Senator Ghazala Hashmi was elected to represent Virginia Senate District 10 in 2019. She has led efforts in the General Assembly to support education, protect healthcare and the environment, and prevent gun violence. Senator Hashmi is committed to ensuring Virginia's government works for everyone.
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