Hey Folks: Some of you may remember that a couple of years ago I started an electronic magazine called Brown Tones. Then it was picked up by a now defunct local queer press. Well, it's back and full of goodies. I'm copying you here on an interview that Farheen Hakeem provided to Brown Tones. If you are interesting in receiving the full e-magazine...then email me, and I will add you to my distribution list.
-Brandon Lacy Campos -Loring Park Brown Spotlight An Interview with Green Mayoral Candidate Farheen Hakeem I met Farheen Hakeem two years ago after joining the Anti-War Committee (www.antiwarcommittee.org). Immediately Farheen impressed me with her passion, her commitment to justice, and her ability to expertly recognize oppression and devise creative means for addressing injustice wherever she finds it. She and I have been in the trenches together, and even, for a short while, we were both Girl Scouts (although she has a much cooler job than I had). It was with great excitement that I greeted the news that Farheen was going to throw her hijab into the 2005 Minneapolis Mayoral Race, and her campaign has moved forward creating an awesome burst of progressive leftist energy in an otherwise centrist election. Farheen agreed to answer some questions for Brown Tones regarding herself and her candidacy. To find out more about Farheen or to donate to her campaign, please check out her website at www.hakeemformayor.org. As many of you are aware, the Green Party (www.gp.org) and her candidates do not accept corporate or PAC dollars, so Farheen's campaign relies on individuals that believe in peace and justice to provide the economic and volunteer support necessary to challenge big party (read DFL) politics/politics as usual in Minneapolis. BT: Minneapolis' mayor previous to R.T. Rybak was Sharon Sayles Belton, a woman of color. Do you believe Mayor Belton supported the development of people of color in local electoral politics and what would you do differently? FH: The main criticism that I have with Sharon Sayles Belton is that she is part of the Democratic machine that has long been the power structure of this city. This mayoral election is an opportunity for her to support people of color in local electoral politics. She has only endorsed one person of color, Candidate Jeff Hayden for Ward 8, and has chosen not to look at other candidates for the Mayoral election. She and Jackie Cherryholmes are supporting Peter McLaughlin. BT: Talk about the importance of your faith in the development of your identity as a radical justice activist. FH: My faith as a Muslim in a dominant Judeo-Christian society has enabled me to be a great community organizer. I have been lobbying and advocating for my people since I was a teenager. In addition, I have had a perspective that has enabled me to bring education and discussion with-in my community (such as LGBT issues). My faith has kept me focused to fight against white colonial thought and fight for restorative justice. It has also helped me open my mind to other social justice movements that have been oppressed by white colonial power. My faith means more to me than a belief system, but a way of life. BT: As Mayor, what would you do to address the history of police violence against communities of color in Minneapolis? FH: As Mayor of Minneapolis, I can talk about the experiences that I have with the police as a woman of color. I can also do "on the street" advocacy and education so that we may hold our police officers accountable. In addition, I would like all police officers to go through dismantling racism training. Many times police officers don't want to admit that there is a needed cultural change with in the department. We also need to train our officers to do conflict resolution, conflict crisis management, and how to deescalate a problem before it becomes a crisis. Most of the feedback that I have heard from community members is that police can make a situation even worse. Last, but not least, I would also like our police to receive anti-heterosexism training. Minneapolis has one of the largest transgender communities in the nation, yet many of our law enforcement officers do not understand nor have received training to better serve this community. This is a population that is needs to be recognized, not ignored. Our law enforcement officers need to be respectful to all communities so we may build relationships and community trust. BT: Currently the state of Minnesota forbids the city of Minneapolis to provide domestic partnership benefits to its employees, what would be your strategy to convince state legislators to effect legal changes to allow domestic partnership benefits? FH: I would first approach the allies to the city and appeal that this is what we want for the City of Minneapolis. I would also approach the city council members to help me lobby legislators that are on the fence. I would also pitch that this is our city, and we should be able to do what we want when we are ready to pay for it. I would also point out different economic development plans that the city is doing so that we would need less funding for the county and state level. I will make every effort to change this law for the city on the State level, so that Minneapolis will be the leader in providing equality to all people. BT: R.T. Rybak vetoed a resolution at the City Council that would have put the city on record as being opposed to the war in Iraq. As mayor, what role would you play in bringing your history as an anti-war activist to City Hall? FH: I would do more than vote for a resolution to oppose the war. I will be protesting, just like I do now, against the war. Minneapolis has the second largest population of anti-war activists in the nation (next to Berkeley, CA). Many other cities around the country have brought this resolution to the city, and have even gone as far as to pass a resolution to repeal the Patriot act. I would use every effort to bring the voice of the community against war into public light. I would also lobby our Senators and Congressperson to take the anti-war movement seriously, and get us out of Iraq immediately. BT: The city of Minneapolis has a growing Muslim population which has traditionally been more conservative on issues of sexual orientation, talk about how you, as mayor and as an LGBT ally, will assist in creating an open dialogue concerning sexuality between the various Muslim communities in Minneapolis and the LGBT community. FH: This is quite interesting to me, especially as an anti-war activist. As Muslims have been attacked in this country in terms of civil rights and many LGBT people have attacked in terms of equal rights. Many could speculate that this problem is some how related. That is because it is. The same people that call me a terrorist and think I am foreigner are the same people that say LGBT should not have a right to marriage. Its bigotry and hate, and we need to fight it in all realms. Yes, there are homophobic Muslims and racists LGBT people. But, as communities are oppressed by the white straight dominant power structure, we need to fight against that in our own communities, and work together. It is the "divide and conquer" tactic that I refuse to subscribe to, and I will call out any Muslim and any LGBT person on it. BT: Minneapolis is fast approaching becoming a city with a majority of people of color. What strategies have you implemented in your campaign to bring together disparate communities of color in an effort to support you? FH: First of all, we need to fight institutional racism on all levels. This starts with a discussion of our histories and our stories. Too often, many of our stories and our histories are told inaccurately by people in power. This misinformation has traveled to various communities and has been known to be "fact". One way to dismantle this is to start having community forums to start discussions, and I would like to find funding so that youth in each community can build a resource library so that other communities can work together. I am excited that Minneapolis will soon be majority of people of color. This means that we need to have leadership and laws that will reflect the community. BT: What has been the reception of the feminist community to your campaign? FH: This is also a very interesting question for me. I feel very strongly that I have the women's vote (seeing how I am the only woman that is running for mayor). Yet at the same time, I have dealt with racism in the feminist community. Many white feminist know very little about Islam, so they believe the corporate media lies about Muslims. I have had women tell me they would not vote for me because I wear hijab (obviously not understanding how empowered and liberated I feel keeping myself covered). I have had one woman ask me if I am circumcised (to which I said, no, I do not have a penis). It is quite ridiculous that a few women who call themselves feminist treat me like a colorful parakeet, but are very respectful to my male counterparts. Again, I do have many other women that very support of me. I have been endorsed by the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, where I was invited to speak at their annual breakfast. I am also seeking the endorsement of Minnesota NOW (National Organization of Women.) I have found a great coach, Shirley Nelson, from the Women Candidate Development Consortium, who has given me some great advice. BT: What would be your immediate priorities as Mayor, and what are some of the strategies you have begun to think of to address those priorities? FH: I would revamp the Community Planning and Economic Development Committee (CPED). I would have eight people on this committee, four being community outreach coordinators, and four being urban planners. This will provide an opportunity to have community input when making decisions regarding development and urban planning. I have begun the process by asking community organizations, like African American Community Alliance, about the ideas and proposals that have been rejected by CPED, yet they are still pushing forward. BT: Minneapolis is a city that suffers from a common affliction: suburbanites access a range of services and infrastructure, yet pay no taxes for the maintenance of services and infrastructure used. In fact, suburban legislators have often bridled at sharing the cost to maintain adequate public services in the Twin Cities regardless of the use of those facilities by their constituents. Have you considered supporting a commuter tax? FH: I am open to learning about and supporting a commuter tax. It seems only fair that suburban people pay if they want better access to the city. I do not think that it will deter people from coming to downtown Minneapolis. The tax needs to be implemented in such a way so it will directly effect those that are commuting into Minneapolis via automobile. BT: Minneapolis has rapidly become gentrified and the few low-income neighborhoods that remain are under attack by developers. How will you address the need for urban renewal while maintaining affordable housing and without breaking up traditional people of color geographical communities within the city limits? FH: I would slow down all of the developing that is happening, and after I reconstruct CPED, make sure that community input is the first priority before there is any talk of development. Right now, lobbyists are in City Hall pushing their agenda to our elected officials. While our elected officials are not connecting with our communities to see what the needs are. My goal is to stop the "quick cash" high price condominiums developments that do not benefit the residents of Minneapolis. Brown Tones would like to thank Farheen for her willingness to be interviewed. I look forward to casting my vote for her in the September Primary, and I encourage all of you to support her as well. It's time that Minneapolis had a radical feminist Muslim woman running the show. REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
