Approximately 60 people gathered in The Bill Bordy Theater at Emerson College Thursday morning for a talk with Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to U.S. Congress.
Alexandria Ellison, the congressman’s niece and an Emerson student, organized the talk and said she was happy to see a politician taking the time to interact with young people.
“Emerson College didn’t ask him to come or offer to pay him to speak today,” she said while introducing her uncle. “Keith Ellison came on his own accord because he wants to hear the voices of students.”
Emerson was one of many stops on Congressman Ellison’s campaign for Chair of the Democratic National Committee before the election on Feb. 24, according to Alexandria Ellison.
Donna Kelly-Williams, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association and an active defender of unionization, recounted Congressman Ellison’s history of standing up for workers’ rights to the crowd.
“The congressman did not side with the corporate interests,” Kelly-Williams said. “Instead, he sided with the people. There could be no better leader for the future of the Democratic Party.”
Alexandria Ellison then introduced Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, whom she described as “an engaged community leader and respected advocate.”
The crowd became excited when Tompkins challenged the controversial platform of President Donald Trump.
“We refuse to be separated by a damn wall,” Tompkins said. “I shudder at thinking what could possibly happen if we don’t have a strong voice like Congressman Ellison to champion our cause.”
Alexandria Ellison then welcomed the congressman to the stage, where he addressed anonymous questions submitted by the audience.
Congressman Ellison first discussed voter turnout in the past election, describing the necessity of concentrating on issues affecting all communities.
“We didn’t invest in the minority,” Ellison said.
Voter turnout was estimated at 36 percent throughout the country in 2013, according to Congressman Ellison.
“We have to get voter turnout up into the ’80s and ’90s,” Ellison said.
Congressman Ellison then addressed President Trump’s new immigration policies and the issue of diversity in his own campaign.
“What Trump is doing, is evil,” Ellison said. “We’re going to have strong supply diversity and hiring diversity … we want vendors that look like America.”
Ellison said he believes Democratic voters need to come together against Trump.
“[Trump] is sowing the seeds of American fascism,” Ellison said. “Everybody counts. Everybody matters.”
Congressman Ellison closed his remarks with a call-to-action for the audience.
“God willing I win, but if I don’t, you got to still fight,” Ellison said.
Several participants agreed with Congressman Ellison’s positions on issues such as immigration.
Emily Pratt, 22, of East Boston said she wants to see Congressman Ellison focusing on resisting Trump’s deportation policies.
“Diversity is always important … because it is a diverse nation,” Pratt said. “You can’t just appeal to one group if you’re going to get elected and get things passed.”
Emily Myers, 23, of the North End, said she believes the Democratic Party needs to address diversity by moving past stereotypes.
“[Diversity] is something that the Democratic Party really fell behind in this past election in addressing,” Myers said. “[I liked the congressman’s] emphasis on engaging with all states – blue, red and states that our Democratic Party … was presumptuous about … going into 2016.”
Alberto Hernandez, 21, of Cambridge, also said he wants the congressman to focus on immigration if elected chair of the DNC.
“I like Keith Ellison,” Hernandez said. “The leader should reflect the electorate. People should be represented … studies show when there are many viewpoints and people from different backgrounds, better ideas come out of it.”
