Immigration

Women Don’t Belong in Politics – Says Who?

/ Simply Ebony / Leave a comment

#MDWomensForum #YDMWC #Women #Maryland #MDGA17 #Politics “You are wasting your time working in politics!” “A woman will never be President because women are too emotional and make bad decisions!” “What you do in politics doesn’t matter it doesn’t impact me in my life. I’m too busy working and taking care of my family.” This is just a glimpse of the comments I received from a man when I spoke about my passion for politics. I like to be fully transparent. There are still chauvinistic men that exist in this world that absolutely do not respect nor want women in power. To those men and others who think like them I say: “Women lead and we do a damn good job at leading!” I truly love what I do. I love making a difference in this world. I love helping other women not just enter politics but WIN elections. Our voices matter! Women serving in elected positions matter! When women serve in office we get things done!

I had the honor to attend the Maryland Women’s Legislative Forum sponsored by the Young Democrats of Maryland Women’s Caucus.
Delegate Aruna Miller, Delegate Pam Queen, Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, Delegate Angela Angel, Dr. Leana Wen the Health Commissioner of Baltimore, and Elisabeth Sachs of the Job Opportunities Task Force all served on the panel to discuss legislation directly impacting women and immigrants.

Two of the major highlights was the Maryland Law Enforcement and Governmental Trust Act and the Maryland Paid Sick Leave Bill. The Delegates and Advocates informed all women in attendance on how they can support and advocate to help get legislation passed. There was also a discussion on how women can prepare to run for office and ways that women can support political campaigns. Three of the State Delegates
were trained by EMERGE Maryland a women’s organization designed to train and equip women to run for office and win. Another political training organization highlighted was Wellstone.

What steps can you take today to support your local candidates? First find out who your elected officials are and then contact them. Ask how you can help? If you are interested in running for office visit the Maryland board of elections website and educate yourself on the requirements to run for office. Consider taking political training to prepare and build your network. Together we can all work to build a better Maryland!

Websites for more information:

Maryland Board of Elections http://www.elections.state.md.us/

Find Your Maryland Elected Officials http://www.mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmmain.aspx?pid=legisrpage&tab=subject6&poptype=find&popid=

EMERGE Maryland http://www.emergemaryland.org/

Wellstone (Training)
http://www.wellstone.org/events

Maryland Legislative Session 2017 http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/07leg/html/sessions/2017.html

Maryland Women’s Legislative Briefing New Visions, New Voices: Charting the Course for Our Future

/ Simply Ebony / Leave a comment

Today I plan to sit at the table with women throughout Maryland to discuss important legislation concerning us at the Maryland Women’s Legislative Briefing. It’s hard to have a voice if you don’t sit at the table. Rape laws matter. The Violence Against Women Act matters. Immigration laws matter. Equality in Pay matters. Family Medical Sick Leave and the minimum wage increase matters. These are all issues we’ve been fighting for years. These are topics we’ll be discussing today. How to push forward on these laws impacting women. Today we will establish “New Visions, New Voices: Charting the Course for Our Future.”

Get involved! If you are interested in joining the movement to chart our future here are steps that you can take:

Run for office.
* Volunteer to help a campaign.
* Apply for positions on the local Task Forces and the Commissions.
* Learn who your Congressional Representatives are and contact them to let them know how you feel about the Executive Orders. Find and contact your Representative here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Sincerely,

Ebony

Immigrants Detained and Blocked From Entering the U.S. Following Trump’s Executive Order to Halt Immigration

/ Simply Ebony / Leave a comment

Chaos has ensued one day after President Trump signed an executive order halting the admittance of refugees to the United States, and temporarily freezing immigration from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia, mostly Muslim countries. Several immigrants have been detained and blocked at airports causing major panic in both the U.S. and abroad. A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday morning that the President’s executive order will, in fact, stop green card holders from seven countries from returning to the United States if they travel abroad.

A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday morning that the President’s executive order will, in fact, stop green card holders from seven countries from returning to the United States if they travel abroad. “It will bar green card holders,” the spokeswoman said. The official further stated that green card holders will need a case-by-case waiver in order to return to the U.S. if they are currently outside the country.

For immigrants needing immediate assistance, NPR’s Kirk Siegler reports international refugee assistance groups are sending attorneys and translators to support new arrivals who are being detained.

Darweesh and Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi, two Iraqi immigrants, were detained at Kennedy Airport in New York on Saturday. The ACLU and other legal organizations filed a writ of habeas corpus for the two men Saturday in an attempt to obtain their clients’ release. One of those men, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, was later released from detention on Saturday, according to a tweet sent out by U.S. Rep Jerry Nadler.

In a joint statement, Reps. Nadler and Nydia Velazquez say they are continuing to work for the release of 11 immigrants currently held at the airport in New York.

Are you an immigrant from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya or Somalia and live in the United States either on a visa or a green card? Do you have friends or family that is impacted? I want to hear from you if President Trump’s travel ban is impacting your life. You can email me at ebony@thenextchaptercorp.com or leave a comment. Share your story.