A Palestinian you should know: Tahanie Aboushi
The following was originally published in Palestine in America’s 2021 Politics Edition. Order a print copy, download the digital version or subscribe today!
Tahanie Aboushi is in the middle of the race to become Manhattan’s next district attorney. She will need to win the Democratic primary in June to make it to November’s general election. Tahanie has a record of being a progressive attorney in New York. Throughout her campaign, she has promised to decarcerate her community, protect immigrants, hold law enforcement accountable, and serve other progressive causes she champions. Aboushi took time to discuss her inspiration, how Palestine plays a role her in her work and what solidarity means to her.
Palestine in America (PiA): What balad(s) is your family from?
Tahanie Aboushi (TA): Beit Hanina
PiA: Was there a moment(s) that drove you to begin your career?
TA: I remember the exact moment that changed everything for me. I distinctly remember a moment in the courtroom during my parents’ trial where the judge pointed to my 9 siblings and I sitting in his pews and asked the prosecutor, “what are you going to do about all of these kids?” Without hesitation the prosecutor replied, “they’re not my problem.” That’s the moment the system became my problem and the moment that has driven my fight to reform the justice system.
PiA: What is your earliest memory of participating in political work?
TA: As I was navigating the backlash of 9/11 while in high school, I began to work with student organizations within my high school to fight against Islamophobia, discrimnination and bullying to create a safe place for all students.
PiA: How has/does Palestine play a role in your work?
TA: New York City is the cultural capital of the world, so naturally we have a very large Palestinian population. As the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, I carry Palestine’s rich culture, langauge and fight for fairness, equality and justice with me. In my work as a civil rights attorney, I stand for freedom, protection of our civil liberties and accountability. We have been forced to live in a two-tiered system that awards justice based on the badge you carry or the bank account you have, not around people or real justice. As a Palestinian woman, experiencing this relationship between my community and the justice system is what today has played a huge role in my work.
PiA: What’s a Palestinian adverb/quote/person/poem/song that you often reflect on in this work?
TA:Mahmoud Darwish- If you live, live free or die like the trees, standing up.
PiA: What do you hope to achieve in your line of work?
TA: For over 200 years, it's been people of color on one side of the courtroom, and white prosecutors on the other. This two-tiered system has perpetuated racist and wealth-based inequalities that have targeted black, brown, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and poor communities. New York, Manhattan, and our communities are ready for a change. My goal as district attorney is to transform our justice system from one that destroys communities, to one that restores them. To accomplish this, I will focus on declining to prosecute at every step and shrinking the footprint of the DA’s office. I will focus on decarcerating New York; centering survivors and victims; holding police accountable and transparent; protecting working families and immigrants; and decriminlizing crimes of poverty, mental illness, substance use, and sex work.
PiA; Many times, Palestinians endure marginalization on all sides of the aisle -- what obstacles do you face/have you faced, and how have you overcome it?
TA: As a Palestinian woman I’ve faced many obstacles. From growing up in a school where I was the only one wearing a hijab to now walking into a courtroom as a civil rights attorney and being asked where my lawyer is, I am no stranger to the feeling of being marginalized. But the key is overcoming these obstacles by ensuring your voice is heard and securing a seat at the table. Historically, Palestinians and Muslims have been underrepresented across the aisle - whether it's on tv, news, politics, education, the medical field etc. Representation matters and we must ensure our community is represented across the board, especially in areas like politics where so much is on the line.
PiA: What’s your advice to folks looking to deepen their political journeys?
TA: My advice is to do things because they are right and aligned with your morals, not because it's political. Many times when we see the greatest changes and the most transformational changes come about in politics, it's not necessarily because it was the politically correct thing to do -- it's because a group of people stood up in solidarity and demanded justice, rights, and stood up for their values. We need to remember that politics is not an end goal, but a mechanism to achieve justice and to secure a better life for all of us.
PiA: How do you see the Palestinian diaspora intersect with issue based work amongst other communities?
TA: There are many intersections that I not only see but that I witnessed firsthand between the Palestinian diaspora and Black and Brown communities. My identity as a Palestinian women growing up in New York City, informed my solidarity and allyship with Black and Brown communities -- especially after my father was arrested and my entire family was forced to deal with the criminal justice system. I saw firsthand how the criminal justice system is not only built to discard our families, but also targets and prosecutes them at all cost.
PiA: How would you define solidarity?
TA: Solidarity to me is when people and organizations stand together and fight for each other against injustice- anywhere, against anyone at any time..
PiA: What do you want people to know about you/your experience as a Palestinian in this work?
TA: I want people, and little girls especially, to see me and know that anything is possible. When I was in high school I was the only Palestinian student in the school wearinga hijab. This proved to be very difficult for me, not just because other kids didn’t understand it, but also because so many adults, teachers, and educators were requiring so much of me, especially post 9/11. I was suddenly tasked with answering for my entire community and while I didn’t know it then, this caused me to be aware of the obstacles my community was having to go through. While this caused me a lot of strife, it also drove my passion to see my community represented and understood. So I worked hard to break down many barriers but I want other Palestinian girls to know that they can do the same and with patience, persistence, and drive they can accomplish anything.
PiA: What does a free world mean to you?
TA: A free world to me would be one where everyone is able to walk through any street without fear of discrimination, judgement, or harrassment. A world where everyone is treated equally regardless of the color of their skin, the person that they chose to love, the gender they identify with, or what they are wearing. It’s a world where we don’t throw prosecution and policy at every problem, but one where everyone has access to much needed resources and where our communities can flourish.
PiA: Was there a moment that made you consider leaving political work? What was it and what kept you working in politics?
TA: I am a Palestinian- American, Muslim trial attorney. I couldn’t leave politics if I wanted to. My identity is what got me into politics in the first place. I am committed to fighting for justice, fairness, equality and accountability. My work in the political world has just begun. I have never been in office before and I have never run for anything before. During my campaign, I have been surrounded by a great team and lots of volunteers who serve as a constant reminder of the work that we are doing and why we are doing it. I am running a campaign that is led by the impacted community so to me, this isn’t necessarily about politics but about serving as a representative for my community so we can all finally have a voice at the podium and a seat at the table.
