Hundreds night turned out Saturday night to hear Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speak at Bellevue's Meydenbauer Center. Omar is one of three Muslim members of Congress and she hoped to inspire other minority communities to get involved in politics.
“You never need an invitation or permission to create the kind of change that you want to see,” Omar told the audience.
She spoke about her goal of breaking down barriers for people of different faiths.
“We wanted to create a country where representatives are not judged by their faith, not the headdress on their head but by the ideas that they hold,” she said.
This event was a fundraiser for CAIR Washington, the Council on American Islamic Relations. Several speakers talked with the group about the importance of encouraging diversity in political office.
Omar was among a slate of speakers who shared about their experiences.
Pennsylvania state Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell was the first Muslim woman to serve in her legislature and spoke about the numerous struggles she has faced.
“Service is the price we pay for the space we occupy on this earth and our diversity is our strength and our humanity is our weapon.”
Omar has been critical of both Israel and President Trump and those viewpoints sometimes draw protests, including a small crowd outside the Bellevue event. Counter-protesters were also a presence on the streets outside.
Omar’s speech comes during the Muslim month of Ramadan, a time for fasting, prayer and community. Omar said she hoped to bring everyone together.
“My message is to not let hate divide us and for us to use love as a driving force,” she said.