Jamilah Nasheed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jamilah Nasheed
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| Member of the Missouri Senate from the 5th district |
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| In office January 2013 – January 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Robin Wright-Jones |
| Succeeded by | Steve Roberts |
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 60th district |
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| In office January 2007 – January 2013 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jenise Williams
October 17, 1972 (age 52) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Fahim Nasheed |
| Occupation | Small business owner (Sankofa Books and Gifts), Real Estate Investor |
Jamilah Nasheed (born Jenise Williams on October 17, 1972) is an American politician. She served in the Missouri Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jamilah Nasheed, born Jenise Williams, grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She was raised by her grandmother along with her three brothers. Her father passed away before she was born.
She attended Roosevelt High School in St. Louis. Later, she took classes at Florissant Valley Community College in 2012. As a teenager, Nasheed started visiting a mosque. After two years of studying Islam, she became a Muslim.
Political Career
Serving in the Missouri House
Nasheed was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from January 2007 to January 2013. She represented the 60th district. She was the first Muslim woman to serve in a state legislature in the United States.
Moving to the Missouri Senate
In 2012, Nasheed ran for the Missouri Senate. A judge initially said she could not be on the ballot. This was because of where she lived compared to the changing district lines. She appealed this decision to the Missouri Supreme Court, which allowed her to stay on the ballot.
She won the Democratic primary election. She defeated the person already holding the seat, Robin Wright-Jones. She also beat fellow State Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford. Nasheed then won the general election. In December 2012, she was chosen to lead the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.
Protests and Activism
During the events in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, Nasheed participated in protests. On October 20, 2014, she was taken into police custody. This happened in front of the Ferguson police station. Reports said she did not leave the street when police asked protesters to move.
In September 2016, Nasheed chose to sit during the Pledge of Allegiance. Her colleagues recited the pledge in the Missouri Capitol. She explained that she did this to support football player Colin Kaepernick. He was protesting police actions and unfair treatment of people. Many of her colleagues did not agree with her action.
Later Political Races
Nasheed announced she would run for Mayor of St. Louis in 2017. However, she later decided to drop out of the race in January 2017. In March 2019, she ran for president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.
Personal Life
On November 22, 2014, Jamilah Nasheed shared on social media that someone tried to harm her. She reported that someone pointed a weapon at her. This happened as she was getting out of her car at her home. News outlets like Fox2Now and The Missouri Times reported on the event.
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