Bangladesh-origin American Shahana Hanif has made history by becoming the first Muslim woman elected to New York City Council.
“I was born and raised in Kensington, Brooklyn. I’m the daughter of Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants, a Lupus survivor, and an activist,” Shahana wrote in a Facebook post after the election results were called in her favour.
“I’m humbled and proud to be the first Muslim woman elected to the New York City Council and the first woman to represent my district,” she wrote.
“We are building an anti-racist, feminist city. We deserve a city that guarantees equitable education, invests in climate solutions, and makes our immigrant neighbors heard and safe. I’m ready to move our city forward in service of our progressive vision every day.”
Shahana will represent Brooklyn’s 39th District in the New York City Council, reports UNB.
Shahana knows firsthand the problems facing our communities. She is a product of public schools having attended P.S. 230 and Brooklyn College, she’s an activist, community organiser, and public servant building with neighbors on our most local fights every day.
Most recently she served as the Director of Organizing and Community Engagement in Councilmember Brad Lander’s office where she led grassroots initiatives like Participatory Budgeting, a process that gives NYers a say in how to spend City dollars in their neighbourhoods.
She is also the first South Asian person elected to New York City Council and the District’s first woman Council Member.