Muslim Women Rally at Minnesota State Capitol for Health and Equality Legislation

The event was organized by RISE with other women’s groups to voice concerns and lobby state reps while learning firsthand how bills become law

By: Maya Gayler

Women-led nonprofit, Reviving the Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE), gathered at Minnesota’s city of St Paul for their first annual Muslim Women’s Day at the Capitol.

“Our voices were missing from the policies that impact our lives,” said RISE Civic Engagement Manager, Bishara Mohamed “We decided we need to engage our community, make them aware of the bills in the House, and make sure that their voices are included in the bills that become law.”

The first three Black women elected to the state’s Senate spoke at the event earlier this week, along with state representatives Hodan Hassan and Frank Hornstein. Democratic candidates Erin Maye Quade, Zaynab Mohamed and Clare Oumou Verbeten secured their seats during the 2022 Midterm elections.

Mohamed says they are advocating for three bills pertaining to menstrual equity, public safety and eliminating hate crimes.

The menstrual equity bill will provide sanitary products for students in grades four to 12. The bill to eliminate hate crimes will help victims report the incident, and was drafted by Representative Frank Hornstein. The third bill proposes to reinstate the right to vote for those who have been previously incarcerated.

The nonprofit partnered with other Muslim women-led organizations such as Ayada Leads, Hikma Academy and Sisters Need A Place, to host this event where state senators and representatives spoke.

Women who attended the event also had the opportunity to meet with the lead authors of the proposed bills, “they got to understand how these elected officials are actually working for them, and what it means for them to show up and make sure that they’re heard,” said Mohamed.

The organization has hosted events at the Capitol in previous years, however, it was in partnership with their Jewish neighbors. This is the first year that Muslim women took center stage.

Mohamed says events at the Capitol are intended to teach the public about how to access their local politicians and engage with the policies that affect their daily lives.

Reviving Sisterhood was established in 2018, but their work began in 2015 when a group of Muslim women from various professions came together to share their experiences and their observations about female leadership, community involvement, and civic engagement.

The organization teaches women how to identify their Senators, Congresspeople and state representatives to help build civic education and engagement. Through leadership development training, policy briefs and tips on how to speak to their legislator, Reviving Sisterhood provides the tools for Muslim women to be active members of their community.

“The biggest sustainable solution to anything is to change policies, which will in turn not change one life but it will impact and change the rest of our community’s life,” said Mohamed.

She adds that Reviving Sisterhood hopes to one day be out of work, meaning the community will be fully engaged in the issues and solutions of their community.

“Our main goal is to create awareness and empower Muslim women by introducing them to these spaces, and ultimately our end goal is to shift the power from us to the people because we want them to be able to attend legislation sessions without our help,” said Mohamed.

In March, the nonprofit is hosting a Muslim Women’s Leadership Conference, which requires a ticket purchase. There will be distinguished professionals speaking, as well as an economic empowerment panel.

“Any public issue is an issue for Muslim women, the water that we drink, the air that we breathe,” said Mohamed. “We cannot only care about when the Muslim ban happens or immigration laws. You cannot separate our faith from our right to be a citizen, and I think creating that awareness shows them that they have to be invested in the people they elect.”