“We Need to Be on the Streets”: Rep. Yassamin Ansari on Protest, Politics, and Persian Identity
When Representative Yassamin Ansari was sworn into Congress earlier this year, she became the first Iranian-American Democrat—and the youngest woman—elected to the House. But her journey into public service began much earlier: in a Persian household in Arizona, around dinner tables filled with political conversation, and in community halls organizing Nowruz celebrations with her mom. In this conversation for the Growing Up Irooni series, Rep. Ansari shares the story of her upbringing, the political moment that pushed her to run for office, and what it means to represent her heritage at a time of mounting political threats and national division. This conversation covers everything from childhood identity and generational trauma to the urgency of climate action, the need for mass mobilization, and the power of protest.
Related Links
Yassamin Ansari’s Official Congressional Website (for accessing her legislation, press releases, and constituent services)
