Cover Story

R

ashida Tlaib is all smiles as she 
drives up to our designated 
interview spot. We’
re in Stoepel 
Number 1 Park, in Detroit’
s historic 
Rosedale Park neighborhood. It’
s part of 
Michigan’
s 13th Congressional district, 
which Tlaib is trying to defend in her 
Aug. 4 primary. She steps into the park’
s 
tennis courts, which have weeds poking 
through them, gives an elbow-bump 
greeting and happily poses for photos. 
This is the first time Tlaib has talked to 
the Detroit Jewish News. She and her staff 
claim this is the first time they were aware 
the JN had tried to contact them; but, in 
fact, the JN has made several interview 
offers to her since 2018, when she became 
the first Palestinian woman elected to 
Congress and began making headlines for 
her polarizing comments about Israel. 
As a member of “the Squad,
” a group 
of progressive women legislators of color 
that also includes Reps. Alexandria 
Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, Tlaib’
s 
words echo far beyond Detroit.
Now, Tlaib’
s district (which includes 
large portions of Detroit and Dearborn 
Heights, as well as communities like 
Romulus, Ecorse and Inkster) is dealing 
with high rates of COVID-19 and ongo-

ing protests against racism and police 
brutality. “Have you seen the marches?” 
she asks. “Jews and Muslims holding signs 
together … It makes me smile.
”
Tlaib’
s primary race, against Detroit 
City Councilwoman Brenda Jones, is 
competitive, and some Detroit-area 
Jews see danger no matter who wins. At 
the same time, Tlaib has many Jewish 
supporters, and says she wants to have 
a respectful dialogue with everyone. “I 
have an open-door policy,
” she said. “Even 
when we disagree, if we can look at each 
other in a way that at least we feel heard, 
that’
s all I ask.
”
In that spirit, here is what Tlaib told 
the JN about her identity in Congress, the 
BDS movement and fighting bigotry of all 
stripes.
This interview has been condensed and 
edited. A longer version can be found at 
TheJewishNews.com.

JN: To many of our readers, you are Public 
Enemy No. 1. What is your reaction when 
you hear that? 
Well, instantly I think of my community. 
I grew up in Wayne County, all my life in 
Southwest Detroit, and have worked with 
organizations like Detroit Jews for Justice 

on stopping water shutoffs, pushing the 
community benefits movement in the 
city, always working side-by-side on social 
justice issues. That is what I want people 
to remember. I truly believe in human 
rights for everyone. 

Have your positions on Israel and 
Palestine been mischaracterized in the 
media?
I think they’
ve been misinterpreted or not 
fully understood. If people saw me more 
as a granddaughter, versus a congress-
member, they would understand why I 
have said we need to push for true equali-
ty and justice in Israel. The lens I bring to 
the issue is something I hope people wel-
come because I don’
t think there has ever 
been a member of Congress with a living 
grandmother or relatives in the occupied 
territories of Israel. I hope people see an 
opportunity, not something negative.

DJJ, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Detroit 
and IfNotNow Detroit have been in your 
corner. What have you learned from your 
Jewish backers and what have they 
learned from you?
When I was at Sugar Law Center, as a 
nonprofit lawyer, I was working for JVP 

Rep. Rashida Tlaib sits down
with the Jewish News for the fi
 rst time.

ANDREW LAPIN EDITOR | PHOTOS BY GLENN TRIEST

Same Folks
Coming After

 All of Us”

“It’s the

14 | JULY 16 • 2020