Every Community Deserves a Voice

Muslim American communities, interfaith leaders, civil rights advocates, immigrant families, communities of color, disability-rights advocates, LGBTQ+ residents, and neighbors committed to equal treatment under the law often ask candidates where they stand on religious freedom, civil rights, due process, free speech, civic participation, public safety, and constitutional protections. Voters deserve the same transparency. Here is where I stand.

Why This Matters

Every community deserves a voice in government. Inclusive democracy is not symbolic. It is how government earns trust, solves problems, and protects equal treatment under the law.

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Civil rights and religious freedom matter because public safety, economic opportunity, healthcare access, housing, voting rights, education, and public participation all depend on whether people believe government will treat them with dignity and respect.

Why This Matters to Me

As a former Hillsborough County Commissioner, I served a countywide district that required listening across neighborhoods, faith traditions, cultures, languages, and lived experiences. That service reinforced my belief that government works best when people are included before decisions are made, not after.

My approach is rooted in leadership that listens. Communities should not have to fight to be heard or accepted. They should have meaningful access to government, fair treatment, and equal protection under the law.

My Record

As a Hillsborough County Commissioner, I worked with diverse faith and community organizations, supported inclusive community engagement, appointed diverse community leaders to public boards, and supported county investments intended to expand opportunity for historically underserved communities.

My public-service record includes working with African American churches, Muslim organizations, Jewish congregations, immigrant faith communities, interfaith organizations, and community advocacy groups.

Campaign materials also document that my office and campaign worked with diverse staff and volunteers and that programs I funded addressed needs across Hindu, Asian Pacific, Arab American, Latino, Caribbean, and African American communities.

As a Hillsborough County Commissioner, I also worked to advance diversity and inclusion requirements in procurement and economic-development agreements. I learned that communities are strongest when opportunity is accessible, government is transparent, and public investments reflect the diversity of the people they serve.

My Position

I oppose profiling based on religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any protected characteristic. Effective public safety should be based on evidence and individual conduct, not stereotypes.

I support religious freedom, civil rights, due process, free speech, freedom of expression, peaceful protest, peaceful boycott rights, equal treatment under the law, voting rights, and fair representation.

Religious Freedom and Equal Protection

Religious freedom must apply equally to every community. I oppose policies that stigmatize people based on faith, national origin, or background. I opposed the Muslim travel ban because national security policies should be based on evidence and individual conduct, not religion.

America is strongest when everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of faith or background.

Economic Opportunity and Equal Access

Equal protection is not limited to voting rights or constitutional freedoms. It also includes fair access to economic opportunity. Government should remove barriers that prevent qualified individuals, entrepreneurs, workers, and communities from participating fully in our economy.

Public Safety Without Profiling

Public safety and civil rights go hand in hand. Law enforcement should be based on evidence, individual conduct, due process, and accountability, not suspicion based on faith, race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Policies that target communities based on identity undermine trust and make communities less safe.

Free Speech, Peaceful Protest, and Boycott Rights

A strong democracy protects First Amendment rights, including freedom of speech, religion, the press, peaceful assembly, protest, and peaceful boycotts. I oppose government discrimination based on political or religious beliefs.

At the same time, I oppose threats, violence, harassment, and unlawful conduct. A healthy democracy depends on open debate, civic participation, and equal protection.

Hate-Crime Prevention and Reporting

I support strengthening hate-crime reporting systems, investing in community-based reporting and outreach, enhancing federal enforcement of civil rights protections, and building trust between law enforcement and impacted communities.

Combating hate crimes requires both accountability and partnership. Communities must feel safe reporting threats and violence.

Voting Rights and Civic Participation

Civil rights include the right to vote and the right to fair representation. I support expanding access to the ballot, preventing voter suppression, fair districting practices, and ensuring underrepresented and marginalized communities can participate fully in elections.

Invest in our future

Detailed FL-12 Examples

A Muslim family should be able to participate in public life without fear of being stereotyped or treated as less American because of their faith.

A voter with limited English access or disability-related needs should be able to receive clear, respectful, and accessible information about public services and elections.

A faith community should be able to advocate, assemble, worship, serve neighbors, and engage government without facing discrimination.

A student should learn that constitutional rights apply to every person, including classmates who practice different religions or come from different backgrounds.

A resident reporting a hate incident should be able to trust that government will take the report seriously and respond fairly.

Evidence-Based Civil Rights and Inclusion Scorecard

Civil rights policy should be evaluated by measurable outcomes, not slogans.

Success should be measured by hate-crime reporting and response, public trust, access to government services, fair representation, voting participation, language and disability access, diversity in appointments and engagement, and whether communities feel safe participating in public life.

The central test is simple: Are people being treated fairly, protected equally, and included meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives?

How I Would Lead in Congress

In Congress, I will support policies that protect civil rights, defend constitutional liberties, oppose discriminatory travel bans or religious tests, strengthen hate-crime prevention and reporting, protect fair representation, and ensure government listens directly to communities affected by public policy.

Security and liberty are not mutually exclusive. We can protect public safety while upholding religious freedom, constitutional rights, due process, and equal protection for all.

Why This Matters in FL-12

Families in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties deserve government that listens to every community and protects every person’s dignity. Public institutions are strongest when they are accessible, fair, transparent, and accountable.

Florida’s 12th Congressional District deserves a representative who understands our communities because she has lived, worked, and served here. I am running for Congress because effective government can solve challenges when leaders listen, work across differences, and focus on results.

Leadership Matters.

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