Jamin B. Raskin

Jamie Raskin

Jamin (Jamie) B. Raskin (born December 13, 1962) is the son of Institute for Policy Studies founder Marcus Raskin. He is married to Sarah Bloom Raskin. Jamie Raskin is a Professor of Law at American University and a former Maryland State Senator.

He won Maryland Congressional District 8 in 2016.

Audit probe

Washington, D.C. (July 14, 2021)— Today, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, sent a letter to Douglas Logan, Chief Executive Officer of Cyber Ninjas, requesting information on his companies’ role in the “audit” of nearly 2.1 million ballots cast in Maricopa County, Arizona in the 2020 election.

The announcement comes a day after Joe Biden instructed all elements of the U.S. government and private sector to defend him against sunlight.

Humanitarian Needs in Cuba letter

December 16 2021 , House Rules Committee Chair James McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-NY), House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy Chair Bobby Rush (D-IL) led 114 Members of Congress in a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize the well-being of the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history...

In the wake of this year’s protests, the members urged the administration to support the Cuban people by suspending U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, remittances, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people...

Signatories included Jamin B. Raskin.

Restoring Constitutional Secularism

"Restoring Constitutional Secularism and Patriotic Pluralism in the White House."

Prepared exclusively by Secular Democrats of America PAC for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Transition Team.

Presented by Representatives Jamie Raskin and Jared Huffman. Endorsed by Representative Jerry McNerney. Congressional Freethought Caucus

Netroots Nation 2021

ELECTIONS REIMAGINED: THE FAIR REPRESENTATION ACT Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Our country must achieve true fairness and equal representation. Yet gerrymandering and our winner-take-all elections bring us politics and a government that is more conservative, more white and significantly less diverse than our country. The Fair Representation Act will fix this by markedly improving our elections. It’s a bold, comprehensive solution that solves our problems with partisan gerrymandering and uncompetitive elections. Progressives can fight to make systemic changes on the local, state and national level to build a government and politics that truly represents all of us — join us to learn how!

Led by: David Daley

Panelists: Anthony Pizzimenti, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Waleed Shahid, Heather Villanueva

Labor Caucus

The Labor Caucus is an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2021 members included Jamin B. Raskin .

Congressional Freethought Caucus

• Rep. Jared Huffman (Co-Chair and Founding Member)
• Rep. Jamie Raskin (Co-Chair and Founding Member)
• Rep. Dan Kildee (Founding Member)
• Rep. Jerry McNerney (Founding Member)

Defense spending cuts letter

May 19, 2020.

Dear Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry:

We write to request a reduction in defense spending during the coronavirus pandemic. As you draft this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we encourage you to authorize a level of spending below last year’s authorized level. Congress must remain focused on responding to the coronavirus pandemic and distributing needed aid domestically. In order to do so, appropriators must have access to increased levels of non-defense spending which could be constrained by any increase to defense spending.

Initiated by Mark Pocan and Barbara Lee.

Co-signatories included Jamin B. Raskin .

Support for the Council on American Islamic Relations

Jamin B. Raskin wrote a letter of support to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on the occasion of their 24th anniversary in September 2018.

Endorsed by Our Revolution

Jamin B. Raskin was endorsed by Our Revolution, an organization run by former campaign workers and supporters of former socialist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

Our Revolution call

September 27 2021 Pramila Jayapal and Jamie Raskin.

Our Revolution endorsement 2020

Service

A lifelong progressive Democrat, Raskin has brought "innovative ideas and a hands-on approach to government and politics at every level."

He has served on the Montgomery County Hate Crimes Commission, the Takoma Park Election Redistricting Task Force, and the Takoma Park Gun Policy Task Force. From 1998 to 2005, Raskin served as the chairman of Montgomery County State’s Attorney Doug Gansler’s campaign committee, where he helped develop the community-based prosecution plan now in effect in Montgomery County.

In 1999, Governor Parris Glendening tapped Raskin to become the first Chairman of the Maryland State Higher Education Labor Relations Board, which the legislature created to secure the right to organize on campus. Under Raskin’s leadership of the Board, thousands of employees at institutions of higher learning in Maryland achieved collective bargaining rights for the first time in state history.

Raskin has earned national recognition as a voice for democracy, and as a civil-rights and civil-liberties advocate. In 1992, he served on President Clinton's Justice Department Transition Team for the Civil Rights Division. He was elected as a Kerry-Edwards Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2004. In 2006 he served on the advisory board of Progressive Democrats of America.

Early and Personal Life

Raskin has stated that he views his life as "growing up in an environment of progressive politics". His father, Marcus Raskin, served in President Kennedy's administration and co-founded with Richard Barnett the Institute for Policy Studies.

Raskin is married to Sarah Bloom Raskin. The couple have three children, Hannah Grace Raskin (born July 13, 1992), Thomas Bloom Raskin (born January 30, 1995), and Tabitha Claire Raskin, (born January 31, 1997).

Education

Raskin is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the law review.

Career

Raskin served as Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts before moving to Takoma Park in the late 1980s. He then served as the general counsel of the National Rainbow Coalition, working with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jr. to expand the base of the Democratic Party and open it up to new voices, new communities and new ideas.

In 1990, he became a law professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, and later academic dean of the law school. He currently directs the school’s Program on Law and Government.

Rainbow Coalition

In 1989 staff of the Rainbow Coalition's The Rainbow Organizer magazine included:

• Editor Jamie Raskin
• Editorial Board Eric K. Easter, Frank Watkins, Minyon Moore, Don Luzamo, Noah Raskin
• Editorial Assistants - Tina Hamilton, Molly Skuitzek

"Share the Vote" Campaign

In 1992, Raskin was a member of the Takoma Park Redistricting Task Force which had the mission of giving the vote to non-citizen residents and illegal immigrants living in the city of Takoma Park. The task force considered several alternatives, such as redrawing the wards according to the voting population, but that is not legal. Raskin suggested that the wards be kept the same, but that everyone in the area would be given the right to vote. Non-citizen voting rights were later approved in a city referendum and the matter survived a court challenge. Raskin co-founded with George Leventhal the "Share the Vote" Campaign that campaigned for non-citizen voting rights. Following the law-change, Raskin commented, "Today, many communities exclude aliens from participation. I'm proud to be part of a community that has extended them this political recognition"

Constitutional Literacy Project

In 1999, Raskin founded the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project at the Washington College of Law. Organized with the widows of the late Justices Thurgood Marshall and William Brennan, the project sends top law students into 20 public high schools in Maryland and Washington, D.C., to teach the U.S. Constitution through cases that affect students most directly.

Also in , Raskin wrote “We the Students: Supreme Court Cases for and about America’s Students,” in which he collects and analyzes the 50 most important Supreme Court decisions about the rights and responsibilities of America’s students. The book, which serves as the text for the Marshall-Brennan Project, has sold 25,000 copies, and the project has become a national model, adopted by the law schools at Rutgers University, the University of Pennsylvania, Arizona State University, the University of Oregon, and Howard University.

Vote swap scheme

Raskin has built a reputation as an innovator whose ideas gain traction. His 2000 article for Slate magazine introduced the idea of Internet “vote trading” in the 2000 election, to convince Ralph Nader supporters in swing states like Florida and Wisconsin to vote for Vice President Al Gore, and to have equal numbers of Democrats vote for Nader in Republican states such as Texas and Alabama. This tactic picked up at least 35,000 votes for Gore in swing states before Republican State Attorney Generals and Secretaries of State threatened criminal prosecution of the Web site organizers.

Voter activism

A member of the board of FairVote, the nation’s leading electoral-reform group, Raskin is perhaps best known as a champion of voters’ rights. In his 2003 book, “Overruling Democracy: The Supreme Court versus The American People,” Raskin documented the Rehnquist Court majority’s assault on voting rights in the 2000 election, and placed Bush v. Gore in the context of a series of Supreme Court decisions undermining the participatory rights of the people.

Focusing on the Rehnquist majority’s statement that the “individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote” for president, Raskin argued for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote (and to get one’s vote counted) to all Americans.

He has worked closely with Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. to advance a voting rights amendment in Congress, and with Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton to advance a voting rights agenda for the people of Washington, D.C.

The D.C. City Council unanimously praised Jamie’s “passionate advocacy” for the voting rights of the disenfranchised.

DSA connection

Jamie Raskin is very close to Democratic Socialists of America.

Our Revolution 2020

Our Revolution endorsed Jamin B. Raskin in 2020.

DSA "squeeze"

From the Washington Socialist MDC DSA Weekly Update for Friday February 8 2019.

Our comrade Jose G alerts us to (national) DSA Venezuela Solidarity’s action message:

Reps Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal are currently circulating a letter to all members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) “rejecting threats of US military intervention in Venezuela, supporting dialogue to resolve the political crisis there, and opposing broad economic sanctions that hurt ordinary Venezuelans.” The deadline for the letter [Feb. 6, has passed but we should quickly] set up congressional office visits with CPC members Reps. Jamie Raskin (MoCo) and Don Beyer (NoVA) ASAP to lobby for support of the Khanna/Jayapal letter as well as a bill to prohibit US military intervention being introduced by Rep. David Cicilline. Here is the Organizing Packet. Local MDC DSA activists say they’ll have an informal strategy meeting after Sunday’s GBM. A half-hour after the email Update was sent we got notification that the above Khanna-Jayapal letter to CPC colleagues has an extended deadline, till COB Friday Feb. 8 — so those local members with squeeze in the offices of Jamie Raskin or Don Beyer should still try to get them on board.

Friend of Damon Silvers

Jamie Raskin is a friend of Damon Silvers.

Democratic Left article

In 2003 Jamin B. Raskin wrote an article for the Democratic Socialists of America paper Democratic Left, Fall 2003, "Supreme Court vs. Democracy".

Liberals have become the biggest constitutional conservatives for fear of the other side’s malign tinkering. But the Left should be fighting for amendments to protect those basic democratic rights that people think are already protected but, in fact, are not: the right to vote, the right of the people to choose the president, the right of the young to an equally funded public education. The right way to face a Court determined to overrule democracy is for the people to overrule the Court.

Raskin was described as a professor of constitutional law at American University, director of its Appleseed Project on Electoral Reform, and author of We the Students and Overruling Democracy:The Supreme Court versus the American People, a recent Washington Post Bestseller.

National Nurses United endorsement

National Nurses United 2018 endorsements included Jamie Raskin MD 8.

Endorsed by METRO DC DSA

In 2016 Metro DC DSA’s Steering Committee endorsed in three races in Maryland… the open seats in Congressional District 4 (Prince George’s/Anne Arundel) and Congressional District 8 (Montgomery). Both were open because CD 8 Rep. Chris Van Hollen and CD 4 Rep. Donna Edwards were opponents for the open Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

Metro DC DSA is endorsing Edwards for the Senate seat, State Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk for the CD 4 seat and State Sen. Jamie Raskin for the CD 8 seat. None of them are shoo-ins. Pena-Melnyk has received the Washington Post’s endorsement but faces two establishment candidates. She has, however, received a late-March cascade of endorsements and money from Emily’s List and similar benefactors. Raskin (“too left-wing”) and Edwards (“not enough constituent service” is the WaPo attack line) have had their opponents get the local daily’s nod and favorable treatment, and been unfavorably treated themselves by the um, objective WaPo. Maryland readers of the Washington Socialist who have not already steeped themselves in these contentious and entertaining races are urged to do so, and actively support our endorsees if they have appeal.

Socialist intern

Cliff Walker Green, a member of Democratic Socialists of America, and Wolf PAC, interned for Jamie Raskin in 2017.

Socialist worker

In 2018 Matt Golden, worked at Jamie Raskin for Congress.

DUH winning candidates 2018

DUH - Demand Universal Healthcare winning candidates 2018.

Ro Khanna, Joe Neguse, Jared Polis, Jesus Garcia, Andy Levin, Jamie Raskin, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Deb Haaland, Madeleine Dean, Mary Gay Scanlon, Joe Cunningham, Veronica Escobar,

Medicare for All Act

In February 2019 Rep. Pramila Jayapal introduced H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019. By May 29 she had 110 co-sponsors including Rep. Jamin B. Raskin.

"Green New Deal"

From the Sunrise Movement:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has released a proposal for a Select Committee on a Green New Deal, a plan that would transform our economy and society at the scale needed to stop the climate crisis.

We have the momentum to make a Green New Deal real, but we need a critical mass of Congresspeople to support the proposal.

Take action on Dec. 10 to show Congress the Green New Deal is a top priority.

Congressional supporters by December 1 2018:

• Jared Huffman (CA-02)
• Jackie Speier (CA-14)
• Ro Khanna (CA-17)
• Mike Levin (CA-49)
• Ted Lieu (CA-33)
• John Lewis (GA-05)
• Joe Neguse (CO-02)
• Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02)
• Chellie Pingree (ME-01)
• Jamie Raskin (MD-08)
• Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
• Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)
• Ilhan Omar (MN-05)
• Deb Haaland (NM-01)
• Carolyn Maloney (NY-12)
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
• Jose Serrano (NY-15)
• Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

HR 109 endorser

By February 20 2019 endorsers of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's HR 109 (Green New Deal) included Jamin B. Raskin.

Hosting Elizabeth Warren

State Senator Jamie Raskin announced a visit by Elizabeth Warren to Maryland, April 21, 2012,, to be held at the home of his friend Damon Silvers.

District 20 is the progressive Democratic heartland of Maryland so it makes sense that the sensational progressive Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren, is coming to visit us here tomorrow! Please join me and true-blue Democrats from all over our community and state in giving Elizabeth Warren a rousing Maryland welcome tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, between 2:00 and 3:30 pm at the home of my friend Damon Silvers, a key force in the labor and consumer movement, in Takoma Park. We have the opportunity to give a big financial boost to Elizabeth's campaign, which is essential to holding the U.S. Senate and taking back Congress in November. Join us!

As you know, Elizabeth Warren is America's passionate champion of the struggling middle class and has proven herself time and again willing to fight against corporate fraud and the capture of government by predatory special interests. The populist thinker who came up with the idea for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, she has done more to advance the cause of consumers and workers over the last decade than anyone else in America. Imagine what she can do in the U.S. Senate seat held by Teddy Kennedy when she beats Scott Brown!

IPS connections

Jamin B. Raskin is closely involved with the Institute for Policy Studies.

Cobble connection

Rep. Jamie Raskin, joined Steve Cobble in one of those “morning after” election analysis panels in 2006 (pictured above), describes Steve as “a hardcore practitioner of grassroots electoral politics who urged progressives not just to dream big but to organize seriously and systematically in order to win. He helped me in every campaign I ever ran, and I will miss him sharply.”

Book Launch

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On March 10, 2006, IPS member, Yolande Fox and former Algerian Ambassador, Cherif Guellal hosted a book launch for Jamin B. Raskin's most recent book entitled "Overruling Democracy: The Supreme Court Versus the American People" at their home in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Among those in attendance were , Jamie's father and IPS-founder, Marcus Raskin; Jim Hudson; Carol Blitzer; Dennis Campbell; Hisham Khalid; Mark Plotkin; Ira Lowe; Michelle Carhart; Steve Wermiel; Former Senator Mike Gravel and his wife, Whitney Gravel; Owen Lombardi; Zeus Yiamouyhannis; Douglass McGray; Lisa Richards and David Toney.

Of the book, Barbara Ehrenreich has stated, "This brilliantly argued and meticulously researched book both alarms and inspires".

IPS event for Marcus Raskin

IPS event

IPS 50th anniversay

Institute for Policy Studies panel John Cavanagh, Jamie Raskin,May Boeve, Ai-jen Poo, Robert Greenstein, Barbara Ehrenreich.

2006 Election Campaign

The following were Summer interns for Raskin's 2006 campaign for Senator for Takoma Park/Silver Spring, Maryland.

• Josh Zipin
• Caitlin O'Brien
• Charlotte Agger
• Ian Gold
• Nora Boedecker
• Genaye Channel
• Tom Christie
• Justin Vlasits
• Jeb Koogler
• Thierno Balde
• Kimberly Myers
• Gavin Weiss
• Nathan Barrymore
• Joshua Werbeck
• Andrew Dana
• Cori Cohen
• Caleb Seavey
• Teddy Berlin
• Sugam Langer

Endorsers

The following organizations and individuals endorsed Raskin:

Organizations:

• Sierra Club
• Maryland State Teachers Association
• Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
• Progressive Neighbors (Takoma Park/Silver Spring)
• National Organization of Women (Maryland)
• NARAL Maryland (rated 100% pro-choice)
• Democracy for Montgomery County
• Montgomery County Public School Retirees Association
• College Democrats of America (Montgomery College Chapter)
• Montgomery Green Democrats
• Silver Chips Online (Montgomery Blair High School's Student Newspaper)
• Progressive Democrats of America
• 21st Century Democrats
• Blue Crab Candidate
• League of Conservation Voters
• AFL-CIO
• American College of Nurse-Midwives
• Maryland League of Conservation Voters
• Sheet Metal Workers International Association
• Progressive Maryland
• SEIU

Individuals:

• Rep. Chris Van Hollen
• Kweisi Mfume, former president of NAACP
• Thurgood Marshall
• Martin O'Malley, Mayor of Baltimore
• Valerie Ervin
• Sarah Horvitz
• Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.
• Jim Hightower
• John P. Sarbanes
• Neal Carter, President, Montgomery College Democrats
• Mark Woodard
• Blair Ewing
• Joy Austin-Lane
• Joyce and Terry Seamens
• Esther P. Gelman
• Kelly Young
• Dorothy Davidson
• Patricia Powell
• Marlana Valdez
• Seth Grimes
• Korey Hartwich

Raskin became a member of the Maryland Senate from January 10, 2007.

Take Back America America conference

On March 17, 2008, Judith Brown, Regina Eaton, Deborah Goldberg, Ashindi Maxton and State Senator Jamie Raskin spoke in a session "Does Your Vote Count? Fixing A Flawed Election System" at the Take Back America conference in Washington D.C. The description for the session was:

"The right to vote is a foundational principle of our democracy, however, millions of voters in this country are disenfranchised every election cycle. A strong democracy, and a participatory democracy, is essential for realizing the goal of a more inclusive America. Data clearly shows that voters are losing faith in our election system - more than 1 in 5 Americans question whether their vote in the last presidential election was counted fairly. Widespread systemic problems persist, disproportionately affecting certain groups of voters, and contributing to reduced public confidence in the integrity of our elections. This panel will discuss the work that is being done to eliminate barriers to voter participation and to ensure that every vote is counted by implementing proactive reforms at the local, state, and national level."

2009 Raskin event

Congressman Elijah Cummings and Attorney General Doug Gansler Co-Chairs of Maryland for Obama, hosted an " extraordinary gala event for SENATOR JAMIE RASKIN, Chair of Montgomery County for Obama at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Friday, January 9, 2009 - 8:00 pm.

Meat Eaters "Violent"

Raskin at the Takoma Park Veg Week launch

On 20 April 2009, Takoma Park Mayor Bruce Williams signed a Proclamation officially declaring April 24 through April 30, 2009 as Takoma Park Veg Week. The event was run as a project of Compassion Over Killing. At the Veg Week Kick-Off Party on April 24, special guest Senator Jamie Raskin shared his plans to go vegetarian for the week, bringing the ethics of meat-eaters under question, stating:

"As a lifelong carnivore, I will be kicking off a week of 'experimental vegetarianism' to see if I have what it takes to live on a nonviolent diet like the most ethically evolved people in the community."

Following Takoma Park Veg Week, Raskin became a vegetarian.

Affiliations

Raskin has done lectures and presentations for the following groups: League of Women Voters, Lawyers' Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, the Anti-Defamation League, National Institute for Citizen Education in the Law, National Rainbow Coalition, Blacks in Government, and the National Women's Democratic Club. He has done pro-bono representation for Greenpeace, ACORN, Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Service Employees International Union, and Students United Against Sweatshops.

Advocacy

From 2000 - 2005, Raskin served as Chairman of the Maryland State Higher Education Labor Relations Board, which oversees labor relations and collective bargaining among 15,000 employees on 16 state university and college campuses. He was elected as the Kerry-Edwards Delegate to the Democratic National Convention 2004 from Democrats Abroad. He was a member of the 1992 Clinton-Gore Transition Team, Justice Department- Civil Rights Cluster, and has served as a Washington-area Board Member for the National Rainbow Coalition.

Raskin has represented thousands of Native Americans suing the federal government over mismanagement of Indian lands.

The Nation

Raskin's writings have been featured in the socialist magazine, The Nation.

National Lawyers Guild

In 2009 Jamie Raskin was a member of the National Lawyers Guild.

February 28, 2013, CMN’s Vicki Schieber, death row survivor Shujaa Graham with Witness to Innocence, Abe Bonowitz of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin were part of the National Lawyers Guild Students Against the Death Penalty Day in Washington, D.C.

D.C. Statehood

Raskin is an advocate of the District of Columbia becoming one of the States of America. He was a recipient of the Martin Luther King Freedom Award from the New Columbia Statehood Coalition. He has also been heavily involved in testifying before various committees on the need for D.C. Statehood. On November 18, 1991 and July 28, 1993, Raskin testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on the District of Columbia about the constitutionality of statehood for New Columbia. On March 26, 1993 he testified before the United States Commission on Civil Rights about Voting Representation and Statehood for the District of Columbia. On June 16, 1994 he testified before the Council of the District of Columbia Committee on Self-Determination. On August 4, 1994 he testified before the United States Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on methods of enfranchising citizens living in the District of Columbia. On January 13, 1998 he testified before the United States Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee on the constitutional relationship between Congress and the District of Columbia. On January 29, 1998 he testified before the Council of the District of Columbia on the unconstitutionality of disenfranchisement in the District of Columbia.

"Progressive Maryland" event, Silver Spring

Tues. Sept 20, 2011, Progressive Maryland, convened a "Take Back the Budget Debate", Silver Spring Civic Center, Ellsworth and Veterans Place, Silver Spring

Turn Your Anger to Action on the Economy and Federal Budget - Come, spread the word, and bring everyone you can!

Panel speakers included : US Rep. Donna Edwards, MD State Senators Roger Manno and Jamie Raskin, Center for American Progress Senior Economist Heather Boushey, and Institute for Policy Studies Fellow Karen Dolan. Moderated by Progressive Maryland Board President and NAACP’s Elbridge James.

Marriage equality

With his colleague Senator Richard Madaleno, Raskin successfully introduced--and was the passionate Senate floor leader for--marriage equality legislation, which passed in 2012 and made Maryland the first state in the nation to adopt marriage equality without a prior judicial ruling striking down the discrimination.

Maryland United for Peace and Justice

According to Kurt Stand “Peace and Justice through the Generations: Passing the Torch for a Better World,” was the theme of Maryland United for Peace and Justice’s 29th annual conference, held at the Unitarian Universalist church in Annapolis, April 25-26, 2014.

Paul Chappell, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran spoke of his personal transformation from someone who didn’t question our military policies and overseas war, from someone who listened to and accepted Rush Limbaugh’s view of the world, into a peace activist who questions what he is told, questions the morality and practicality of US overseas policies — and thus today is engaged in building a movement to “wage peace” not war. Kristi Casteel gave a moving tribute to her son, Joshua, another war veteran turned peace activist who died from a cancer likely caused by his exposure to uranium deposits and burn pits used by the US military in Iraq. In a video recording of one of his speeches, Joshua, who served as an interrogator at Abu Ghraib, states that there is no such thing as a private conscience; conscience must be public to be real. Thus he joined Iraq Veterans Against the War, addressed audiences across the world, and wrote plays speaking to what he saw and learned, including Returns and The Interrogation Room.

Social activism for peace necessarily becomes activism for open democratic governance, as those who profit from militarism inevitably try to shield their actions from the public. That connection was made by J. Kirk Wiebe, who lost his job and suffered from government harassment because of his NSA (National Security Agency) whistle-blowing, and Kathleen McClellan, the National Security and Human Rights Counsel of the Government Accountability Project.

The concrete tasks that lay ahead were laid out in State Senator Jamie Raskin’s address to the conference in which he spoke of a Maryland progressive agenda that is building support for the twin goals of peace and justice.

Raise Maryland

In 2013, Valerie Ervin and Jamie Raskin were involved in Raise Maryland.

Congressional run

Will Jawando, a former Obama administration aide and Education Department official, said he will run for the 8th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D).

Jawando, 33, who lives in Silver Spring, filed notice of his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission said he will make a formal announcement next month. He becomes the third Democratic primary contender to officially enter the race, joining Del. Kumar Barve (D-Montgomery) and State Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery). Van Hollen is running for the Democratic nomination to succeed the retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D).

Conyers endorsement

John Conyers endorsed Raskin's candidacy;

"I have known Jamie for many years to be a tireless champion of progressive causes as both a professor of constitutional law and litigator, as well as a dynamic leader in the Maryland Senate. As the Dean of the U.S. House, former Chairman and current Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, and co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, I have had the privilege of working with numerous members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. As such, I have no doubt Jamie’s’ background, skills, knowledge and passion will make him a superb member of Congress."

John Conyers

U.S. Representative, Dean of the U.S. House and Co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus

Women for Jamie

Nine former presidents of the Woman's Democratic Club of Montgomery County endorsed Raskin's 2016 Congressional campaign. Dorothy Barthelmes, Madeleine Sigel, Jane Merkin, Susan Messitte, Carole Brand, Beth Tomasello, Roberta Hochberg, Anne Healy, and Daphne Bloomberg.

"Women Win With Jamie" members

Juliette Aakaria * Saada Abdallah * Isabel Abrahams * Nancy Abramowitz * Kay Abrams * Emily Ackerman * Abigail Adelman * Lindsey Agnamba * Promise Ahlstrom* Javiera Alarcon * Rosaline Aloh Attey * Gina Angiola * Jean Athey * Judy Appelbaum * Judith Arbacher * Ann Arevalo * Matilde Arciniegas * Mary Arimond * Erika Armetta * Josephine Atanga * Patricia Aufderheide * Hannah Aurbach * Martha Bair Steinbock * Anne Balcer * Marion Ballard * Elizabeth Banach * Florence Banks * Jaime Banks * Mary Ann Banta * Karen Barbour * Jennifer Barmon * Dr. Ann Barnet * Dr. Beth Barnet * Isa Barnet * Juliana Barnet * Judi Barth * Dorothy Barthelmes * Joy Bennett * Kate Bennis * Rebecca Benson * Theresa Bergen * Ruti Berner-Kadish * Nicole Berner-Kadish * Fran Bernstein * Agnes Besong * Dana Beyer * Shruti Bhatnagar * Elaine Binder * Kathryn Blare * Arlene Bloom * Daphne Bloomberg * Elizabeth Boa * Deb Bodner * Linda Bowan * Rosmary Bowan * Jermaine Denee Bowens * Marilyn Bracken * Regina Brailsford * Carole Brand * Abby Brandt * Shawn Brennan * Franca Brilliant * Mimi Brody * Sally Bruckner * Margaret Buckley * Reba Buda * Tiana Butcher * Dr. Yvette Butler * Sue Byrnes * Ann Byron * Darsie Cahall * Naomi Cahn * Alice Johnson Cain * Eriak Callaway Kleiner * Jessy Campos * Laura Cantilo * Susan Carle * Audrey Carpenter * Lorig Charkoudian * Genevieve Chase * Mary Jane Checchi * Lynne Cherry * Sonia Chessen * Laurie Chin * Sue Cimbricz * Peggy Clarke * Deyanira Clori * Jennifer Cohen * Marlene Cohen * Shelley Cohen Fudge * Betsy Cohn * Betsy Combs * Elizabeth Conklin * Kathleen Connor * Diana Conway * Lisa Cookson * Karen Cordry * Anita Cowan * Carmela Cowgill * Jacki Coyle * Mary Claire Cranford * Amy Cress * Virginia Crisman * Maria Cristina Garcia * Kristi Cruzat * Catherine Cummings * Amy Tenney Curren * Karen Czapanskiy * Jennifer Dabson * Fran Daniel * Rhea Dash * Angela Davis * Carol Davis * Christina Dean * Donna Delacruz * Esther Delaplaine * Colette deMarneffe * Peggy Dennis * Kathryn Desmond * Sylvia Diss * Judy Docca * Pat Donovan * Anna Doroshaw * Renee Drayton * Lisa Dubay * Whitney Duck * Lauren Dudley * Ruth Dudley * Dr. Liza Wilson Durant * Cindy Dyballa * Kimberly Dyer * Shannon Earle * Felicia Eberling * Bridget Edwards * Lois Edwards * Clara Ekeke * Whitney Ellenby * Mona Ellis * Joan Elliston * Susan Emmer * Margaret Engel * Rosie Engman * Monica Ettinger * Barbara Eyman * Glory Eyong * Bagher Fardanesh * Christine Farley * Norma Fedder * Debra Felix * Patricia D. Fenn * Ternberham Fentike * Lois Fern * Ann Fieldhouse * Miti Figueredo * Rebecca Fishman * Christine Fitzgerald * Joan Flaherty * Elizabeth Flaim* Katy Flanagan * Carol Flaisher * Janet Fleischman * Mary Ellen Flynn * Megan Foley * Joan Fonka * Agnes Forbin * Anne Frances * Roz Frank * Lucy Freeman * Bonnie Freidman * Marcy Frosh * Wendy Frosh * Allison Fultz * Janice Funderburk * Amy Fusting * Katherine Gagarin * Cayo Gamber * Jody Gan * Joanne Ganginis * Alison Gansler * Michelle Garcia * Bonnie Garrett * Margaret Gelin * Esther Gelman * Judy Gelman * Sharon Gelman * Susan Genn * Sarah Genua * Susan Gilson * Suzan Gildenhorn * Tracy Gipson * Gwen Glesmann * Kristine Goddard * Barbara Goldberg Goldman * Tracey Goldman * Janet Goldberg * Aviva Goldfarb * Melanie Goldstein * Amy Golen * Jenn Gorelik * Gail Gottlieb * Donna Graham-Harris * Nancy Graham * Fiona Grant * Carol Lynn Green * Tammy Green * Margaret Greene * Angela Greenberg * Gail Greenberg * Nancy Greenspan * Raina Greifer * Regina Gretschel * Barbara Griffith * Liesl Groberg * Joan Grosfeld * Jennifer Grossman * Sandra Grossman * Marjorie Gustafson * Ellen Haber * Ann Hacker * Judith P. Hallett * Sara Hankins * Judy Hanrahan * Sally Hardin * Elizabeth Hargrave * Lynne Harris * Mary Lou Hartman * Mimi Hassenein * Molly Hauck * Toba Hausner * Jeryl Hayes * Anne Healy * Susan Healy * Emily Hecht-McGowan * Helena Heilig * Sara Heilig * Judith Heimann * Margi Helsel-Arnold * Susan Heltemes * Michelle Henderson * Shirley Henderson * Anjelica Hendricks * Margaret Henoch * Barbara Henry * Ruthie Herman * Danielle Hermey * Ileana Herrell * Kathleen Hill * Lori Hill * Bridget Hill-Zayat * The Hon. Sheila Hixson * Jackie Hoffenberg * Virginia Hogan * Wilma Holmes * Andrea Holtermann * Eileen Hoover * Helen Hopps * Jennifer Hosey * Curry Rose Hoskey * Elise Hughes * Anna Hukill * Holly Hukill * Mary Hunter * Lesley Israel * Sue Jacobson * Pauline Jakobsberg * Lenna Israbian-Jamgochian * Michelle Janney Coyle * Anne Jarrett * Darrel Jodry * Mila Johns * Alison Jones * Christina Jones * Jackie Jones * Lois Jordan * M. Elizabeth Joyce * Anne S. Kasper * Betsey Katiti * Stacey Katz * Susan Katz Miller * Judy Kaufman * Tracy Kaufman * Bethany Karn * Lee Ann Kate * Sam Kebede * Lucy Keker * Kate Kelliher * Ann Kemp * Aviva Kempner * Gudrun E. Kendon * Wendy Kent * Ann Kempsi * Emily Kiernan * Sally Kima * Sareana Kimia * Angela King * Betty King * Cindy King * Joan King * Lisa Kingsley * Mary Kiraly * Marian Kisch * Carla Kish * Louise Klee * Aileen Klein * Andrea Kline * Emily Koechlin * Diana Kohn * Caroline Kolar * Rana Koll-Mandel * Paula Kowalczuk * Meera Krishnamoorthy * Keshini Ladduwahetty * Jill Langford * Minh Le * Carol Leahy * Beth Leanza * Patty LeBlanc * The Hon. Susan Lee * Hagit Leibowitz * Ivy Leichman * Barbara Lenders * Barbara Lenkerd * Cara Lesser * Laurie Lester * Rachel Lettve * Mibi Leuvelink * Barbara Levin * Barbara Levine * The Hon. Karen Lewis Young * Michele Lewis III * Jennifer Levings * Beverly Levy * Heather Levy * Rosalyn Levy Jonas * Elissa Lichtenstein * Enid Light * Marthe Likound * Alpha Lillstrom * Dara Lindenbaum * Deborah Lindsley * June Linowitz * Esther Lipman * Paula Lipman * Brigitte Lippmann * Emily Littlewood * Maggie Littlewood * Marcia Loeb * Susan Loftus * Jacqueline London * Janet Lowenthal * Betsy Loyless * Ellen Lurie Hoffman * Debby Luxenberg * Sara Lynch * Diane MacEachern * Jennifer MacLaughlin * Beth MacNaim * Kathy Madaleno * Anne Mahoney Robbins * Rukhsana Maqsood * Sophia Marjanovic * Rachel Marshall * Toni Marx * Skyler Matuska * Heather Maurer * Olivia Mbah * Mariam Mbi * Elissa McBride * Hillary McCardell * Marina McCarthy * Mary McCarthy * Holly McClain * Dolores McDonagh * Kim McGettigan * Kristi McGhee * Ann McGreggor * Milagros McGuire * Delores McKoy * Erica Meier * The Hon. Barbara Meiklejohn * Ellyn Meizlish * Reina Mendez * Samantha Menegas * Jane Merkin * Susan Messitte * Ellen Meyerson * Mary Mihalye * Lorraine Miller * Rosa-Shoshana Mintz Urquhart * Mayu Mishina * Florence B. Mitchell * Robin Mize * The Hon. Karen Montgomery * Sera Moragan * Donna Moran * Patrice Moran * Tessa Mork * Cheryl Morden * Heidi Mordhorst * Megan Moriarty * Marci Moskowitz * Joan Moyers * Paulette Mpouma * Amanda Mueller * Barbara Mulitz * Katie Mullen * Joan Murtagh * Sara Mussie * Beverly Nadel * Marlene Naide * Karen Nakata * Loretta Neumann * Stephanie Ney * Marthe Noss * Florence Ntoh * Elizabeth Null * Joy Nurmi * Annie O’Keefe * Susan Ogden * Moriam Oju * Sylvia Olivetti * Lynn Olson * Patricia O’Neill * Diane Orentlicher * Nicole Oshin * Mabintau Ouattara * Jessica Palmer * Younghoon Park * Mara Parker * Corrine Parver * Jen Pauliukonis * Karen Paul-Stern * Nancy Peavy * Teddi Pensinger * Amalia Perez * Michelle Phillips * Brenda Platt * Dominique Porter * Louise Postman * Kristen Pramuk * Erin Prangley * Debra Prybyla * Beth Py-Lieberman * Kathe Quinn * Pearl Radcliff * Beryl Radin * Eden Raskin * Erika Raskin * Hannah Raskin * Lynn Raskin * Tabitha Raskin * Mary Reardon * Christine Reesor * Ashley Rhinehart * Kate Rhudy * Marie Ritzo * Becky Robert * Rachel Roberts * Sandy Robinson * Martha Robinson * Jessica Rodgers * Gwendolyn C. Rogers * Annie Rohlin * Sandra Roland * Helen Rosenblum * Beth Rosenthal * Maureen Ross * Karen Rothman * Fran Rothstein * Nancy Rowland * Joanne Royce * Doreen Rozario * Noreen Rozario * Sally Rudney * Molly Ruhl * Caroline Russell * Jessica Sadler * Tonya Saffer * Nicole Salimbene * Dedra Salitrik * Nikita Salker * Barbara Salkin * Sharon Salus * Monique Samuel * Margo Sandago * Louise Sanders * Diana T. Sawyer * Vickie Scheiber * Shelly Schenkeng * Maida Schifter * Mary M. Schmidt * Maddy Schoap * Sue Schumacher * Cinthia Schuman Ottinger * Dianne Schwartz * Sandra Schwarzbart * Katie Sebastian * Susan Sell * Jaspreet Seth * Ann Shalleck * Joanna Shalleck-Klein * JoAnne Sharlach * Bayo Sharp * Madison Sharp * Emily Shetty * Jamie Shopland * Harriet Shugerman * Esther Siegel * Joyce Siegel * Madeleine Sigel * Mary Silva * Rosie Silvers * Erica Simpson * Janice Simsohn-Shaw * Diane Singerman * Beth Siniawsky * Claire Sleigh * Augusta Smallwood * Becky Smith * Vivian Smith * Brenda Smoak * Rebecca Smondrowski * Patty Snee * Erica Snipes * Marlene Snyder * Debbie Spielberg * Pauline Stanley * Betsy Starks * Ann Marie Staudenmaier * Rena Steinzor * Ruby Stemmle * Betsy Stephens * Aimee Stern * Kathy Stevens * Kris Stevens * Sharon Stout * Kate Stewart * Mary Strayhorne * Karyn Strickler * Barbara Studwell * Kathryn Sullivan Kolar * Lydia Sullivan * Nik Sushka * Joyce Susswein * JoAnn Symons * Holly Syrrakos * Julie Taddeo * Vicki Taitano * Ruby Tang * Judith Tarr * Jules Tartaro * Gabrielle Tayac * Caroline Taylor * Christine Taylor * The Hon. Jennifer Terrasa * Cynthia Terrell * Chandra Thames * Carolyn Thompson * Rachel Tickner * Linda Tipton * Sylvia Tognetti * Nora Toiv * Diana Tokaji * Beth Tomasello * Wendy Truman * Marlana Valdez * Nicole Valentine * Cori Vanchieri * Marisa Van Saanan * Tara VanToai * Amanda Vogel * Deborah Vollmer * Juliette Wakaria * Nancy Walker * Maya Wallick * Olivia Wallick * Drusile Wanko * Tiffany Ward * Elizabeth Watson * Juanita Weaver * Marley Weiss * Marge Weissberg * Laurie Welch * Stefanie Weldon * Meredith Wellington * Mary Werden * Lois Wessel * Carol White * Jule Wiatt * Susan Wildstrom * Jheanelle Wilkins * Susan Winarsky * Ellen Winter * Nancy Withbroe * Carrie Witkop * Amy Wolff * Carrie Wofford * Jen Wofford * Elisse Wright Barnes * Emily Wurtz * Erin Yeagley * Rachelle Yeung * Karen Yoho * Leepo Yu * Ellen Zavian * Debbie Zients * Sandy Zimmet * Elizabeth Zinner * Marla Zipin.

"Progressive victory"

Given that these candidates want to rid the party of corporate influence, it’s no surprise that many are going head-to-head with big money. In Maryland, Jamie Raskin’s two biggest challengers in the Democratic primary are a wine mogul named David Trone, who has already spent more than $5 million of his fortune on the race, and Kathleen Matthews, who once oversaw the Marriott political action committee and is now herself the recipient of more lobbyist money than any Democrat running for the House in 2016.

“My [two] major opponents here have no real history of involvement in Democratic Party politics,” Raskin says. “They are creatures of the big money politics that have overtaken our country.” He’s won the endorsement of both liberal groups and a number of Democratic state lawmakers, and—borrowing a page from Sanders’ playbook—has relied on a surge of small-dollar donations to remain competitive. “Progressives are fired up here for a victory against big money,” Raskin says.

New progressives

Writing in The Nation magazine, John Nichols quoted Jayapal as saying, "We're building a movement that can clearly stake out a positive vision for the future of America at a time when too many people feel cynical about change, and when too many people are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table."

According to Nichols, Jayapal argues that "corporations and special interests have their voice in Congress, and they have too many members scared of their power. What Congress needs is a progressive voice who is unafraid to take on these powerful interests-who is willing to fight for all Americans, not just the wealthiest one percent."

Nichols wrote that Jayapal joins "a number of the Democrats ... being nominated for the House [who are] progressives who really could change the chamber and the country."

Nichols writes that Jayapal joins "a number of the Democrats ... being nominated for the House [who are] progressives who really could change the chamber and the country."

Aside from Jayapal, Nichols cites "Civil rights and voting rights champion Jamie Raskin , "a brilliant constitutional scholar and state legislator [in Maryland]" ... and "Anti-corruption and anti-monopoly campaigner Zephyr Teachout [who] has a real chance to take a Republican-held seat representing New York."

Endorsements

Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Keith Ellison (Minn.) and Raul Grijalva (Ariz.), and Rep. John Conyers (Mich.), Democracy for America, Progressive Democrats of America, NEA, International Association of Machinists, Sierra Club.

PDA 2020 endorsement

In 2020 Progressive Democrats of America endorsed Jamin B. Raskin's congressional run.

PDA 2016 endorsements

In 2016 Progressive Democrats of America endorsed;

• Sen. Bernie Sanders - President
• Rep. Alan Grayson - Senate (FL)
• Rep. Donna Edwards - Senate (MD)
• Jamie Raskin - US House (MD08)
• Tim Canova - US House (FL-23)
• Bao Nguyen - US House (CA46)
• Nanette Barragan - US House (CA44)
• Rep. Keith Ellison (MD05)
• Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ03)
• Rep. John Conyers (MI13)
• Rep. Barbara Lee (CA13)
• Rep. Jim McGovern (MA02)
• Rep. Mark Pocan (WI02)
• Rep. Rick Nolan (MN08)
• Rep. Hank Johnson - US House (GA05)
• Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL09)

PDA 2018 endorsement

In 2018 Progressive Democrats of America endorsed Rep. Jamie Raskin, MD-08.

Wins primary

State Sen. Jamie Raskin (Montgomery) won one of the most-watched Congressional primaries on April 26, 2016, defeating heavy-spending opponent David Trone for the Democratic nomination. (WUSA9)

State Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (Montgomery), outspent 6-to-1 by a wealthy Potomac wine retailer who poured more than $12 million of his own into his candidacy, won Maryland’s 8th Congressional District Democratic primary Tuesday.

Raskin, 53, a constitutional law professor, led with slightly more than one-third of the vote. He ran ahead of David Trone, who became the biggest self-funding House candidate ever. Former news anchor Kathleen Matthews ran third, followed by six other contenders who trailed by large margins.

Muslim Democratic Club

Muslim Democratic Club of Montgomery County December 17, 2016:

Thank you to our panelists today!

Please note, that as a Muslim organization, we have committed to make sure all of our panel discussions are gender-balanced, if not majority female. Today, all four Muslim members of our panel were female (Saba Ahmad is missing is this photo).

Ending Gender Inequality is a core mission for our organization.

Muslim Democratic Club 2018 endorsements

Muslim Democratic Club of Montgomery County June 5 2018:

We are proud to announce that for county council, we endorse Brandy Brooks & Danielle Meitiv for MoCo at this time.

For Select State Delegate Races:

• District 15: Hamza Khan & Amy Frieder
• District 16: Samir Paul & Marc Korman
• District 17: Kumar Barve, Julie Carr & Jim Gilchrist
• District 18: Leslie Milano, Mila Johns & Jared Solomon
• District 20: Lorig Charkoudian, Fatmata Barrie, Malik Lendzondzo & Jheannelle Wilkins

• District 39: - A Special Press Release will be issued
• County Executive: Endorsement Pending.
• CD-08: Jamie Raskin
• CD-06: A Special Press Release will be issued
• Governor: Endorsement Pending

IAPAC money

Congressional candidate Jamin B. Raskin received money from the Iranian American Political Action Committee during the 2016, 2020 election cycles.

NIAC Action Commends Resolution on JCPOA

July 16 2019 Washington DC – Moments ago, Reps. Barbara Lee, Jan Schakowsky, and David Price introduced a resolution calling for the United States to return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran deal, from which President Trump withdrew in May 2018.

In response, NIAC President Jamal Abdi issued the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s decision to abandon the Iran nuclear deal has put the U.S. on the brink of war with Iran and threatened to undo the hard won constraints against Iran’s nuclear program. Thankfully, many Members of Congress recognize that there is no military solution to the present crisis, and that the best way to de-escalate is for the U.S. to return to compliance with the nuclear deal. Representatives Lee, Schakowsky and Price should be commended for their years of leadership in advancing peace and diplomacy, including by introducing this important resolution.

“There remains strong political will in Congress to restore U.S. credibility and engage Iran diplomatically–despite Trump and Bolton’s push for war. For Members of Congress and Presidential contenders, it is good and important to call out Trump’s dangerous moves that have taken us to the brink of war. Yet, the root cause of this crisis was Donald Trump’s decision to kill a strong nuclear agreement with Iran, which is why signaling support for a return to compliance is so important. The Lee-Schakowsky-Price resolution helps solidify the growing consensus for a JCPOA return while signaling that the window for diplomacy is not shut, nor is the opportunity to restore U.S. credibility with both the international community and the Iranian people.

The resolution was co-sponsored by Reps. Don Beyer, Earl Blumenauer, Steve Cohen, Gerry Connolly, Lloyd Doggett, Anna Eshoo, Ruben Gallego, Raul Grijalva, Deb Haaland, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Andy Levin, Alan Lowenthal, Donald Payne, Jr., Mark Pocan, Jamie Raskin, Peter Welch, John Yarmuth.

On CAIR

“I thank you all for your hard work and commitment to a strong, diverse and just democracy”.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) (October 2017)

Supporting NAKASEC event

According to press officers Janine Walsh, Sharon Stanley-Rea, and Becky Belcore, August 30, 2017, faith leaders from multiple Washington-based organizations stood together to show their support and solidarity of young people who receive the protections of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. As the Trump administration considers stripping more than 800,000 young people of DACA protections by terminating the program, leaders of faith express their extreme disappointment.

A coalition of faith-based organizations led by the Franciscan Action Network, Disciples of Christ, Church World Service, Sisters of Mercy, Leadership Conference of Women Religious and others announced today the start of 7 days of prayer and fasting from August 30 to September 5, imploring the Trump Administration to keep both DACA and TPS as they are.

Patrick Carolan, executive director of FAN, opened the press conference and spoke about some of the responses from DACA beneficiaries at the 22-day vigil in front of the White House. Staff members from the offices of Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-D-08) and Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) read statements in support of DACA. Two of the speakers were young people directly impacted by DACA representing NAKASEC, the organization which coordinated the vigil. Sharon Stanley-Rea of the Disciples of Christ also spoke in support of DACA.

CPC

In 2017 Jamie Raskin was a new member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Medicare For All Congressional Caucus founders

In August 2018 Medicare For All Congressional Caucus founding members included Representative Jamin B. Raskin.

Palestine delegation

Rep. Jimmy Panetta March 30 2018:

Our delegation held a roundtable with Palestinian youth in Jerusalem.

March 30, 2018 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) returned today from a Congressional delegation visit to Afghanistan, Jordan, and Israel. The focus of the trip was on global and regional security and cooperation issues.

In Afghanistan, Congressman Panetta and the delegation traveled to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Lighting which is the temporary home to the Southeast Advisory Security Task Force under the command of Brigadier General David M. Hamilton. The visit to the FOB in the Paktia Provence allowed Congressman Panetta to talk to and thank the service members on the front line who are training and advising Afghan security forces. The delegation then traveled to Kabul and met with General John W. Nicholson, Jr., Commander, Resolute Support Mission and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, who briefed them on the current military strategy and security situation in Afghanistan. The delegation also met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah at the Presidential Palace.

In Jordan, the delegation met with His Royal Highness King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, as well as other senior defense and foreign affairs leadership who shared their insight into the challenges facing Jordan and the region.

In Israel, the delegation discussed U.S.-Israel relations, the prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and regional security issues with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The delegation also met with Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv. Congressman Panetta and the delegation reiterated American support for a two-state solution and for peace in the region.

In addition to Congressman Panetta, the Members of the delegation included:

• Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA)
• Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT)
• Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL)
• Rep. Adam Schiff (CA)
• Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX)
• Rep. Jim Himes (CT)
• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY)
• Rep. Katherine Clark (MA)
• Rep. Donald McEachin (VA)
• Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD)

Honoring Barber

Julianne Malveaux is with Dorothy Cowser Yancy and 92 others. May 1 2019 at 2:40 AM.

Things go better with activists😎. So it was great to attend the Institute for Policy Studies gathering at the Library of Congress. Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced Rev. William J. Barber II, who received the inaugural Marcus Ruskin Award for Civic and Intellectual Courage. His remarks, always right on time, were exceptionally inspirational. I didn’t know Marcus Raskin, but am a fan of his son, Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md), who gave moving remarks about his dad! A really special occasion! Congrats, Rev. Barber!!!

H.Res.233

Condemning the Government of the Philippines for its continued detention of Senator Leila De Lima, calling for her immediate release, and for other purposes.

Whereas extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the Government of the Philippines as part of a Government-directed antidrug campaign present the foremost human rights challenge in the Philippines;

Whereas the Department of State’s 2017 Human Rights Report notes numerous human rights concerns, including the persecution of human rights defenders and the detention of political prisoners in the Philippines, stating, “The most significant human rights issues included: killings by security forces, vigilantes and others allegedly connected to the government, and by insurgents; torture and abuse of prisoners and detainees by security forces; often harsh and life threatening prison conditions; warrantless arrests by security forces and cases of apparent government disregard for legal rights and due process; political prisoners; killings of and threats against journalists; official corruption and abuse of power; threats of violence against human rights activists; violence against women; and forced labor.”;

Sponsor: Rep. Jackie Speier [D-CA-14].

Cosponsors

• Rep. James McGovern, [D-MA-2]
• Rep. Hank Johnson [D-GA-4]
• Rep. Jamie Raskin [D-MD-8]
• Rep. Brad Sherman [D-CA-30]
• Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D-TX-35]
• Rep. Dean Phillips [D-MN-3]