Hawzah News Agency (Massachusetts, US) -A Springfield African American Muslim woman will be running for the US Congress to represent working families and underserved voices in her community in Western Massachusetts.

“This status quo at the Berkshire Athenaeum doesn’t serve the common people. The system is designed to favor the elite,” Tahirah Amatul-Wadud told on April 14 during an event organized by Indivisible Pittsfield to educate voters.

Amatul-Wadud words resonated with the audience who expressed their frustration with numerous tries to improve the infrastructure holding together Western Massachusetts. Others have tried multiple solutions for keeping the young and the hopeful in Berkshire County.

She will run for the First Congressional District in Massachusetts where she competes with Representative Richard Neal.

Both candidates will face each other in the Democratic primary scheduled on September 4, 2018. In fact, political pundits believe that the subsequent general election will favor House Democrats.

The mother of seven children said that the near surety of a Democratic victory in 2018 had enthused her opponent to win. If Neal does that, he may play a senior role in the leadership of the House.

“Career politicians shouldn’t be given preference over other progressive candidates” she said.

Amatul-Wadud is considered to be one of the progressives who are dedicated to represent their demographics for high visibility.

According to her, “I run for Medicare which should be given to everybody, criminal justice reform, and universal internet access among others.”

In 2007, Keith Ellison of Minnesota became the first Muslim US Congress member. He was joined by the other Muslim André Carson of Indiana following a special election on March 11, 2008.

According to 2010 report of Pew Forum, Muslims represented 0.4% of the Congress which is the legislature of the Federal government of USA. It consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

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