Thread by @HMAesq

Lots of thoughts running through my head today, the 2nd anniversary of the #MuslimBan .

My daughter who asked me "Why does he hate Muslims?" on seeing the future President call to shut down Muslim immigration. She dismissed him: 'He doesn't need to be part of the conversation.'

I remember the heroes that showed up at Dulles and beyond. The ones who didn't have relatives or clients who'd be impacted by banishment from our country, but showed up anyway. The man who yelled "Welcome to America!" to everyone who walked through the int'l arrival doors.

The chants welcoming refugees. The multilingual signs, the law firm that grew organically out of the arrivals hall. And my colleagues who dropped everything to rush to Dulles. We did better than "access to counsel:" we brought counsel to those who needed it, when they needed it.

Dulles was a collective shout: "No, we're not going to accept this."

I penned the below thoughts the next day, still going through the shock of seeing the system of law I had proudly worked in dissolve with the stroke of a Presidential pen.

My mind that night raced to stories of my clients who sought refuge here, running from broken systems, laws that didn't work, and the stress of uncertainty. We got a mere glimpse, and looking back, that's the night I realized I couldn't continue to trust this system.

It happened in my lane. I knew the origin of the policy: hate. I had to do something, or forever regret it. No more comfort zones, no more complacency.

I recognized my privilege as a practicing lawyer, in good health, with a family and a community behind me.

I feel the weight of that responsibility.

I needed to connect with people, activists, advocates, policymakers. I needed to understand the narratives and counternarratives. So I shifted the trajectory of my small practice. Advocacy became part of our baseline representation.

I briefed Gov. McAuliffe on what happened at Dulles and some recommendations for bettering our Commonwealth. Later, he appointed me to the VA Asian Advisory Board, and still later, the Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the wake of the terror in Charlottesville.

I didn't go to school for any of this, but necessity is the mother of invention and, perhaps, inspiration.

The most powerful lesson from Dulles was that immediate, collective shout: "No, we're not going to accept this." From people who showed up for another community for no reason other than it was the right thing to do.

#NoBanNoWall

Everyone contributed - paying parking fees, delivering gourmet meals, bringing office supplies, translating, canvassing the crowds, or providing a shoulder to cry on. We are truly our best when we show up.

And we're our worst when we don't remember. #HolocaustMemorialDay

I became a candidate because I want to show up. I have to show up. Building a better commonwealth and country? This is just getting started. We're not near done.

hassan4va.com