EXPERT: Keith Ellison Minnesota Attorney General
Keith Ellison is the 30th Attorney General of Minnesota and a former Congressman. He grew up in a Catholic household but later converted to Islam while in college. He has been active in both state and national politics, advocating for progressive policies and social justice issues throughout his career.
Keith Ellison is the first Muslim in America to win a statewide public office. He describes the response to his Muslim faith within the American political system after the election of Donald Trump. He identifies Muslims as an easy target for political suppression, as expressed in Trump’s so-called ‘Muslim ban.’ He says that Muslims have a great appreciation for democracy and American values, having often escaped repressive states. He believes that demonising minority populations breaks down social solidarity, which needs to be built at a community level. He points out the similarities between extremists on both sides, calling for the creation of a middle ground, and the real problems that impact upon Americans. He also identifies how the narrative that Muslim women are oppressed features in Islamophobic discourse.