Democrats in the state legislature are launching for the first time a caucus for lawmakers who are Muslim or from the Middle East, North Africa or South Asia, also known as MENASA communities, to give voice to those underrepresented Coloradans.
The joint Muslim-MENASA Caucus will be led by Rep. Iman Jodeh of Aurora and Rep.-elect Yara Zokaie of Fort Collins. Jodeh is Colorado鈥檚 first Muslim and Palestinian-American state lawmaker, and Zokaie will be the legislature鈥檚 first lawmaker of Iranian descent when she takes office next year.
Get top headlines and 萝莉少女 reporting directly to your mailbox each week when you subscribe to In The NoCo.
Noting that the Trump administration banned travel from Muslim-majority countries in 2017, Jodeh said forming a caucus will help defend against possible discriminatory actions.
鈥淲e're trying to be proactive about making sure that people with that [MENASA] heritage feel like they are, in fact, protected," Jodeh said.
Jodeh said protections from discriminatory federal policies could take the form of specific legislation or partnerships with local advocacy groups and other affinity caucuses like the legislature鈥檚 Black Caucus.
The Muslim-MENASA caucus has already partnered with , a non-partisan, non-secular, not-for-profit organization that advocates for MENASA artists, leaders, and companies.
The purpose of a joint Muslim-MENASA caucus is to have a space for Muslim lawmakers and those from the variety of religious and cultural groups from the MENASA region.
鈥淧eople from the MENASA region are often forced to identify by religion, and unfortunately, that's often defaulted as Muslim,鈥� Jodeh said. 鈥淭here are Baha'i, there are Hindu, there are Zoroastrian, there are smaller sects of Christianity. Having such a diverse population speaks to not only the need, but the urgency of having a MENASA caucus.鈥�
Jodeh and Zokaie both said Coloradans from the MENASA region haven鈥檛 had enough representation in state government.
鈥淚've heard from Iranians around the entire state who are happy to have some representation, and who have felt like their voices have not been heard,鈥� Zokaie said. 鈥淎nd I think that that goes for all folks from the MENASA region.鈥�
Zokaie said having an official caucus will make it more effective to advocate for Colorado鈥檚 Muslim and MENASA communities at the statehouse because it provides a unified voice that鈥檚 more powerful than advocacy from individual lawmakers.
