First Muslim congressman campaigns for Sanders in Cedar Rapids

Last edited Wed Dec 30, 2015, 11:56 PM - Edit history (1)

This is the kind of leadership our nation needs right now'



U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota (left) and Director of the Mother Mosque of America Taha Tawil speak with men in the community at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota spoke to community members at the center to campaign on behalf of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. Rep. Ellison traveled through Iowa stopping at a number of mosques and Islamic centers to speak to different communities in light of recent exchanges between Sanders and Donald Trump. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)


http://www.thegazette.com/first-muslim-congressman-campaigns-for-sanders-in-cedar-rapids-20151231

Erin Jordan

Dec 30, 2015 at 4:44 pm

CEDAR RAPIDS — At a time of anti-Muslim rhetoric from Republican presidential candidates including Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Ted Cruz, Americans of all faiths should stand up for religious freedom, said Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim in Congress.

One way to do that is by caucusing Feb. 1 for Bernie Sanders, a Vermont senator seeking the Democratic bid for president, Ellison told about 40 people Wednesday at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids.

“Whoever wins Iowa will create national momentum,” Ellison said. “My question for you is do you want a presidential candidate willing to stand up to bullies?”

Ellison, a Democrat whose district includes Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs, converted from Catholicism to Islam in college. He posed for photos Wednesday with Taha Tawil, director of the Mother Mosque of America, based in Cedar Rapids. Tawil and Ellison went on the Hajj pilgrimage together in 2008.

FULL story at link.