Image: Jihad Watch
A new legislative caucus in the Colorado House of Representatives has been formed to address the concerns of the Muslim, Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian (MENASA) communities as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House.
“The past year, coupled with the anticipated Trump administration, has highlighted the urgent need for a unified caucus that elevates our community’s representation and ensures we have an uncompromising voice at the Capitol,” said Democratic Rep. Iman Jodeh, an Aurora Democrat, in a statement announcing the caucus.
Jodeh, the first Muslim and Palestinian American elected to the Colorado Legislature, recently secured her third term in House District 41, earning over 60% of the vote. Since 2020, she has also been a member of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus.
The Joint MENASA and Muslim Caucus aims to protect civil rights and counter xenophobia and Islamophobia through legislative advocacy and public engagement. The acronym MENASA represents Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian communities.
According to History Colorado, around 70,000 Muslims live in Colorado, while the Census Bureau estimates the state is home to approximately 42,000 Arab Americans.
The caucus also seeks to ensure representation for the diverse MENASA population in Colorado, which includes members of Sikh, Baháʼí, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Catholic minorities.
“These communities face anti-Arab and anti-Brown hate crimes, xenophobia, and discrimination,” Jodeh stated. “Our region and population are unique in being defined primarily through religious narratives rather than our shared identities. It is time to challenge this monolithic framing.”
Comments