Team,

I am the first Muslim elected to the Virginia State Senate. But I am here today only because of the generations of women who broke barriers before me. Their refusal to quit in the face of adversity and their determined efforts to challenge social conventions have been my inspiration.

One such woman was my grandmother, whom I called my Ammi.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and so I want to take a moment to celebrate and honor my beloved Ammi.

Ammi was born in India in the early 1900s, a time when access to education was denied to her simply because of her gender. Her formal education ended when she was in third grade – just eight years old.

But she never gave in to what social norms and conventions expected of her. She continued to pursue her passions independently and valued education above all else. She raised five children and ensured that they all attended college, including her two daughters. Her grandchildren were each raised to love learning and to value the academic pursuits of a variety of fields, including medicine, law, and academia. 

So, as we celebrate the innumerable contributions and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to America’s culture and history, it’s not lost on me that these celebratory moments belong to all those generations who paved pathways of progress for each of us; People like my Ammi. 

Now, we need to protect and provide for paths of progress for those who come after us. Make a contribution to support my campaign today.

Senator Ghazala Hashmi

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