AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMAN, CHERYL SUDDUTH, RUNS FOR U.S. CONGRESS (2188 hits)
CAIRO – Making history for the second time, an American Muslim woman is running for the Congress, aiming to advocate women's rights and underserved people by picking a seat at the 11th congressional district of California.
“The diverse 11th Congressional District is full of families like mine. I've spent my career fighting for women, working class families, underserved vulnerable people, low-income families, and small businesses,” candidate Cheryl Sudduth, wrote in a campaign post on her Facebook page.
“I've been a change agent in my workplace, my community & this district -- which struggles with high dropout rates, underachievement, and chronic unemployment -- everything that will make a real difference in the halls of Congress.”
Running for a Congress seat, Sudduth, a mother of three, has gained support of various sectors of her community especially the African-American and Muslim minorities along with women.
The Muslim candidate has spent her life in serving her community by advocating the rights of underserved and disabled people.
“Having aggressively represented the needs of the underserved and vulnerable people in my community and throughout the country, I vigorously advocate social and economic justice, international peace, and civil & human rights,” Sudduth said.
“I have never been afraid to take on tough issues and speak out against injustices and inequities.”
She also has a long history of supporting youth through her non-profit club, ICYSports, which has helped in changing the lives of many youth.
Education and equal pay are at the top of the agenda of the African-American candidate.
“It's time Pay Equity becomes Reality - not just words scribed in legislative policy...it's been the law since 1963, after all,” Sudduth wrote on her Facebook page.
“It's time Gender & Racial Parity in Education & Health Care become a reality - not just idealistic rhetoric...it is the basis of civil rights legislation over 50 years ago.”
Fighting Unemployment
The Muslim candidate has been contributing in reducing unemployment rates in her society by offering jobs to hundreds of people.
“My work at Goodwill serving those with disabilities and disadvantaging conditions, as well as my volunteer service with various community-based and interfaith organizations, underscores my commitment to create greater awareness about and finding solutions to closing the growing gap between the wealthy and those in chronic poverty,” Sudduth stated.
Along with advocating women’s right, Sudduth is deemed as a “problem solver” by several of her supporters.
“An experienced policy advocate, I have a stellar reputation for being a principled leader who takes unwavering, independent stances on issues,” she said.
Inciting voters to give her their voices, Sudduth wrote: “It's time we treat people with respect and grant them economic opportunities regardless of their perceived color, culture or credit rating”.
“It's time we step off of the menu and take our rightful seats at the decision-making table.
“Stand with ME to claim that seat in D-11...it's time.”
Democrat Keith Ellison became in November 2006 the first American Muslim elected to Congress in US history.
In 2008, Democrat Andre Carson was elected to the House of Representatives, becoming the second Muslim Congressman in the country.
There are between six to eight million Muslims in the United States, making up less than three percent of the country's 300 million population.
