By Elahe Amani & Bita Eghbali, Medium: 

Sudabeh (Sudi) Farokhnia, Hanieh Jodat Barnes, and Roxana Akbari are three Iranian American women, among nine people, potential delegates to Democratic National Convention from California Congressional District 45 of Orange County [includes cities of Irvine, Aliso Viejo, Tustin, Laguna Woods, Anaheim, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, RSM, and Orange] to advocate for the progressive agenda of Bernie Sanders. Three of these nine people will be voted to represent District 45 at DNC.

Iranian-Americans of Orange County are among the estimated 1.5 million people with Iranian heritage who live in the United States. Southern California is home to the highest number of Iranian in the diaspora and Orange County is home to more than 36,000 Iranian Americans, according to the latest available American Community Survey data.

The names of these three Iranian American women advocating for Bernie Sanders's progressive agenda are known to many Iranians in Southern California, and bring a sense of pride for the Iranian-American community and community at large. as they all have a rich history in civil, humanitarian, and gender equality.

The discourse of political participation of women, particularly first-generation immigrant women goes beyond the narrow framework of voting and holding elected office and it is inclusive of engaging in community and adding value to civil society organizations, defining, redefining, and examining the non-traditional spaces of women’s activism. Iranian American women on the basis of their identity as first-generation immigrant and women operate as both racial/ethnic minorities and as women in the American polity. As such, the intersectionality of their identities as a woman, first-generation immigrant woman, cultural representations influence their desire to be at the forefront of electoral politics and make change possible.

Iranian women in the diaspora, specifically in the US, are at the forefront of political empowerment of the relatively small but critical and opinionated voting bloc of the US election.

PAAIA national survey done in 2019 highlights few strands from the responses that are consistent with advocacy for Bernie Sanders and in general DNC.

“The tensions in both the wider U.S. society and between the United States and Iran are clearly being felt by the Iranian American community. Respondents share their concerns about discrimination and personal safety, opposition to the travel ban, and fears about a potential U.S. military conflict with Iran. When contemplating priorities and goals, the community advocates for deeper political participation within the United States, including electing Iranian Americans to the office and increasing the capacity to influence policy.”

Political inclusiveness in relation to race and gender move society to a way in which race and gender are less significant as determinants of electoral success. This can be examined in both the Iranian community and community at large in Orange County to regard these committed women as viable delegates to DNC.

In the below-referenced interview conducted with these women, it is clearly shown their vision for the future of progressive politics is contingent upon not only the continued mobilization of women as voters, but increasingly encouraging women from reliable voters to advocates, delegates and candidates for political office at the local, state, and national levels.

1. What is a delegate? And what is the significance of being a delegate to the DNC?

Roxana Akbari: “Democratic National Convention (DNC) Delegates choose the presidential candidate at the DNC and represent the diverse communities they are a part of. Delegates are significant because their votes help set the Democratic party’s policy agendas and priorities based on the proportion of delegates voting for each presidential candidate.”

Hanieh Jodat Barnes: “These are individuals who represent their state at national party conventions. The candidate who receives a majority of the party’s delegates wins the nomination. The primary goal of the Democratic National Convention is to nominate and confirm a candidate for president and vice president, and also adopt comprehensive party platforms and unify the party.”

Sudi Farokhnia: “Anyone can be a delegate. While some seats are reserved for party elites, most spots are wide open. Aspiring delegates simply pledge themselves to a candidate and campaign for a spot in the delegation. We can ensure certain issues such as Medicare-for-All, public education, canceling student loans, and free college are central issues in the 2020 presidential race by serving as a party delegate at the DNC.”

2. Although Sanders has suspended his campaign, why is it still important to represent progressives as a delegate to the DNC? Also, what is the significance of Iranian representation as a delegate to the DNC

RA: “For myself and most other Iranian-Americans I know, U.S. foreign policy decisions regarding Iran directly impact our loved ones and family members. I’m aware that Iranian-Americans don’t agree on every political issue, but almost all of us can agree that we don’t want innocent Iranian lives sacrificed in a game of politics between the U.S. and Iran. Iranian-American representation at the DNC will be powerful because it will allow us to voice our community’s concerns at the country’s largest Democratic convention and allow us to fight for U.S. foreign policy that would not harm innocent Iranian people. It will also hold the next democratic presidential nominee accountable to ensure they don’t take the path of war or inhumane sanctions.”

HJB: “It is instrumental that [Bernie Sanders] continues to remain on the ballot to amass delegates who can push for progressive policy changes. The progressive agenda must remain a priority to the Democratic Party. According to the United States census data, it’s estimated that over a million Iranian-Americans live in the United States. This number is not even a proper indicator as there was no option to check “Iranian” on the census, but over a million people opted to write Iranian. Only with delegates that look more like what the United States actually looks like, which is diverse and full of different people and ideas, are we able to achieve a better future that includes everyone. So we must, as Senator Sanders states, be willing to fight not just for those we know, but for those we don’t know.”

SF: “As a delegate of Bernie Sanders, progressives aim to engage in the discourse to ensure our voices are heard and the Democratic Party’s platform represents the interest of everyone, not just the 1%. Although the official Sanders Campaign has nearly disbanded, some grassroots Bernie supporters are continuing their work of organizing. The goal is to help activists mobilize in upcoming primary stages and win more delegates for Sanders. Our community [Iranian-American] is a natural fit for the comprehensive reforms that are needed right now in U.S. Iranian-Americans represent an educated, well-established immigrant community that continues to contribute to the fabric of America. We have experienced the result of unnecessary endless war, the struggle of immigrants with an opportunity that sound immigration policy can offer.”

3. What are the most important policies that resonate with you from the Sanders campaign?

RA: “I strongly support Bernie’s intersectional social justice policies regarding women and LGBTQ+ rights, reforming the immigration, asylum, and criminal justice systems, fighting climate change and building foreign policy that is focused on diplomacy rather than endless wars. ”

HJB: “There is no one policy I can say takes precedence over another, but rather it is the consistency of policies that resonated with me. The consistency in policies that offered change for the better and equality for all, especially those whose voices have often been silenced. Having said that, when we talk about racial and socioeconomic injustices, we must focus on building on policies like Medicare for All, A Green New Deal, women’s rights, the expansion of social security for the elderly, tuition-free colleges, and fighting for a livable wage. There must also be an emphasis on protecting minorities, indigenous natives who live in the direst conditions on land that once upon a time was their territory, African American communities whose ancestors have been brought to the US during the transatlantic slave trade and the LGBTQ community and trans sisters and brothers who are assaulted at a high rate for exercising a right.”

SF: “My number one focus is on Medicare-for-All. With millions of Americans uninsured or underinsured and millions more who have lost their employer-based health coverage during this pandemic, the message of Bernie Sanders — “Healthcare is a Human Right” — is clearly the guiding light of my efforts. Investing in public education and ensuring every child has access to quality education not just here in the US, but across the world as well as advocacy for Women’s Rights and LGBTQ+ Equality defines more than two decades of my community organizing and activism. Our students do not have a fair competitive standing compared to students elsewhere in the world. Many do not pursue their dreams because of financial pressure, and once they graduate, they are under heavy student debt for years. So, Free College and Canceling Student Debt are two policies that resonate with me. Also, End the Wars; the United States needs to stop the military-based economy that has brought destruction around the world, which made millions of people refugees and immigrants. As a risk professional who studied accounting, I know that balancing our budget and reducing our debt is only possible when the resources are redirected to lift our communities (not spending on endless destructive wars).”

4. How has the current COVID-19 crisis impacted the election process leading to the November 2020 election?

RA: “The COVID-19 crisis has revealed the systemic flaws and inequalities present in American society and shows us that our current socioeconomic system, which is rooted in making profits over prioritizing human rights, is exploitative, dangerous, and unsustainable. We cannot fight COVID-19 without expanding access to free and equal healthcare for all Americans. We cannot send Americans back to work without paid sick and family leave, or without high-quality public education and childcare for all. We cannot contain the virus without addressing our homelessness crisis, which leaves many Americans without access to shelter or clean water. As such, I believe that anyone running for office in 2020, especially our Democratic Presidential nominee, will need to have a comprehensive and intersectional policy platform to address COVID-19 if they want the people’s votes.”

HJB: “There are definitely some concerns about how the convention will be held and how transparent the process will be if thousands of delegates have to join through an online platform. We know that what would have been an in-person caucus in selecting the delegates, has now turned into an online voting system, which requires registered democrats to request a ballot and vote virtually. I do believe it is important to ask everyone in California to request their Congressional District Ballots. The deadline to complete this form is 5 pm PST on Thursday, May 28, 2020. Regarding the presidential election, candidates are also no longer able to hold in-person rallies. While online rallies have been held, the effect is not quite the same. What I fear the most is that there will not be a sense of emotional connection to candidates and the election as a whole which can negatively impact voter turnout. We are hoping that things will start to get better soon.”

SF: “It is quite possible that the convention will be held virtually for the first time in the history of the United States. This will significantly reduce the possibility of interaction, collaboration, and debates that take place on the floor of the convention. With the requirement of social distancing and Stay at Home orders in late March 2020, all grassroots campaigning and rallies were canceled. Hence, the possibility to bring out the voters and highlight the differences between the remaining candidates became very hard and Senator Sanders decided to suspend his campaign but he continues to accumulate more delegates. If Bernie reaches 1200 (25%) delegates by the end of the primaries (he has 999 now), then Bernie delegates can bring proposals to the entire convention. There are 20 states that still have not had their primaries; therefore achieving the 25% required threshold is within reach. Biden needs to accumulate 1,991 pledged delegates to clinch the majority (he has 1550 now). Sanders has voiced confidence about the prospect of unity, citing the imperative in the party to defeat Trump as a reason he thinks his supporters will rally behind Biden.”

5. Why/How did you get involved in politics?

RA: “My involvement in politics is deeply connected to my identity as a first-generation Iranian immigrant. I grew up in Tehran and immigrated to the United States with my immediate family ten years ago when I was 12 years old. Life as an Iranian woman is a politicized experience and I really felt this, even as a young girl. This sparked my passion for using politics and government as a tool to empower and help people. Although I was not yet a U.S. citizen at the time and could not vote in the 2016 election, I received a loud wake-up call learning about Trump’s xenophobic and anti-immigrant policies. Since then, I’ve been deeply engaged in Democratic politics, activism within the Iranian community, and advocacy focused on immigrant, women, and LGBTQ+ rights.”

HJB: ”I didn’t necessarily have the desire to get involved in politics. If anything, I always made sure I was growing as a grassroots organizer. Most of my career has been spent collaborating with nonprofit organizations and working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, both for the United States and Australia branches. With the rise of Trump in 2016 and the supremacist ideologies, while also facing increased xenophobia as a minority, I felt the need to speak truth to power. This led me to my work as one of the founding members of the Women’s March Los Angeles Foundation, organizing one of the largest mass movements led by women in the history of the United States. It’s also important to note that I am raising a biracial child in a nation that pays very little attention to police brutality that our African American communities face on a daily basis, especially young black men. I was also raised in a Muslim family where we have been humiliated since 9/11 so it is important for me to lead with my passion for protecting the underdog and turn that passion into policies that protect the different sectors of our society.”

SF: “In 2016, I was a strong supporter of Bernie Sanders and advocated for him and attended rallies. After the election and attending the first Women’s March, I found myself in recurring state of shock and disappointment and realized that although I continue to volunteer in various non-profit organizations to raise awareness and raise funds, it is important to get involved in local politics and connect with other like-minded people who aim to impact policymaking process. I consider myself an agent of change and in order to be part of the solution, I had to enter local electoral politics. I started by supporting the campaigns of progressive candidates such as Kia Hamedanchy and my congressional representative Katie Porter. I joined several local Democratic Clubs such as: Feel the Bern Club, Canyon Democrats, Democratic Women of South OC, and several caucuses of the State of California such as Progressive Caucus and Women’s Caucus and Chicano Latino Caucus to learn more about the statewide initiatives and collaborate with like-minded activists. Meanwhile I was canvassing, phone banking, attending rallies, participating in minority-based round tables with Bernie’s Campaign, and hosting house parties to spread the message of Bernie Sanders and encourage others to donate and volunteer.”

6. Value of women's political participation and representation?

RA: “Despite the appearance of equal rights for women in the United States, sexism and misogyny remain deeply rooted in our everyday lives and societal systems. Without women in politics, everything from reproductive justice, equal pay, the fight to end violence against women, and the struggle to end systemic discrimination against queer women and women of color will be at stake. We need women to continue participating in politics, organizing to fight for feminist issues, and running for office.”

HJB: By 2024, it is projected that there will be 173.9 million women [compared to 167.08 million men] in the United States, yet we continue to serve in this society as minorities. More than 70 countries can say that a woman has held the position of president or prime minister. Just in the 2018 general elections, we witnessed a wave of women elected to the United States House of Representatives for the 116th Congress. A record-breaking 103 women were elected or re-elected into the United States House of Representatives, causing many to call it the “Year of the Woman.”

SF: “Women represent more than half of the population but are underrepresented in all levels of government. It is important for women to have not just a seat at the table, but rather occupy many seats at the table so that issues affecting women are neither brushed aside nor are decided by men who generally don’t have the necessary understanding to resolve. Paving the way for more women in the political, business, and the civic arena is an investment in a more equitable, and peaceful society.”

7. Importance of presence of younger women, first generation immigrants, in current electoral politics in the US? What are some of the most critical issues in this election for the Iranian American community?

RA: “Young people, women, and immigrants are all traditionally underrepresented within United States politics, so people with those identities may feel like their voices and concerns don’t matter. As a 22-year-old woman and a first-generation immigrant myself, I know I definitely felt this way for the longest time. But that is exactly why it is important for us to speak up loudly for what we believe in and fight to make space for the issues that impact us within United States politics. This will pave the way for others like us to feel empowered and get involved as well. First, I believe ending the Muslim Ban is a critical issue for our community in the 2020 election. For almost four years, Iranian-American families have been torn apart and punished due to Donald Trump’s racism and islamophobia. We have missed weddings, graduations, and funerals, and lost access to having our family members visit us. Our community can’t afford four more years of discrimination and racism, so we need the next U.S. President to end the Travel Ban. Next, I believe ensuring the return to a path of peace and diplomacy with Iran is a key issue for us. While it is important to keep Iran’s nuclear program in check, we must ensure that the next President does not unconstitutionally take us to the brink of military conflict with Iran again.”

HJB: “I think if there is a lesson to be learned from these past few years, it is that we must continue to remain engaged in our local and state politics and inspire our sons and daughters to pay close attention to their rights as the citizens of this nation. We also must lead with passion and empathy. It is very important to make sure that our next president immediately lifts the sanctions on Iran’s economy, where millions of its citizens are suffering, especially under the current pandemic. Also, it is important to note that many of us Iranians here are considered white, without receiving any of the privileges that come with being white. An Iranian woman who wears the hijab has to check ‘white’ on her school application but she is a subject to racism and Islamophobia on a daily basis.”

SF: “The party needs our diversity. States strive to reflect their diversity in the makeup of their delegations. As an Iranian-American female professional who is a first generation immigrant and survivor of war, I believe we bring a much needed intersectional perspective to the decision making process. Having first generation immigrants at the discussion and decision process, will help ensure the solutions are all-encompassing and not done in a silo which usually leaves many segments of the society behind. Women’s Reproductive Rights are under attack and unofficially on the ballot. We must not allow men to make decisions for women behind closed doors. We are celebrating 100 years of Women’s Right to Vote in 2020, and yet the struggles of our foremothers and foresisters continue to linger. This is why we need to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and put an end to infringement of the rights of women and LGBTQ+ communities. The constant tug of war between the US and Iranundermines the civic society in Iran and their plight for freedom and prosperity. Lack of leadership and a global view during decision makinghas a detrimental economic impact on Iranian lives. Trump’s international policies have failed in all fronts.”