Tahanie Aboushi facts for kids

Tahanie Aboushi is an American lawyer who helps people protect their rights. She works with her siblings at The Aboushi Law Firm in New York City. In 2021, she ran to become the top prosecutor for Manhattan. She finished third in that election. Tahanie wanted to change how the justice system worked. She aimed to help people facing challenges like poverty or health issues, rather than just punishing them.

Early Life and Family

Tahanie Aboushi grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents moved there from Palestine. When she was 14, her father faced a long prison sentence. This experience deeply influenced her desire to help others.

She is also the sister of Oday Aboushi. Oday is a professional football player for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Education and Legal Training

Tahanie Aboushi studied Legal Studies at St. John's University. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree there. Later, in 2009, she received her law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. This education prepared her to become a lawyer.

Career as a Civil Rights Lawyer

In 2010, Tahanie Aboushi started her own law firm, The Aboushi Law Firm. She has worked on many important cases involving civil rights. Civil rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person.

Helping During Travel Ban

In 2017, after a new travel rule was announced, many people faced problems at airports. Tahanie Aboushi went to JFK Airport in Queens. She offered free legal help to those affected by the rule. For her amazing work, she received the Shirley Chisholm Women of Excellence Award.

Protecting Religious Rights

Tahanie Aboushi also took legal action against the New York City Police Department. This was because police officers had made women remove their hijabs for photos. This happened while the women were in police custody. Tahanie represented three women who said their religious rights were violated. In 2018, these women each received money in a settlement with New York City. This helped show the importance of respecting religious beliefs.

Supporting Protestors' Rights

In May 2020, Tahanie Aboushi represented a young woman. This woman was hurt by a police officer during a protest in Brooklyn. A video of the event became very popular online. The officer was later suspended and charged with a crime. Six months later, Tahanie filed a lawsuit against the city and the police department. She sought justice for the woman and to highlight the importance of peaceful protest.

Running for District Attorney

Tahanie Aboushi had many successes as a civil rights lawyer. However, she wanted to make bigger changes to the justice system. In January 2020, she announced she would run for New York County District Attorney. This is a very important public office.

If she had won, Tahanie Aboushi would have been the first woman to hold that position. She also would have been the first Muslim and Palestinian American to be the Manhattan District Attorney. Her campaign showed her dedication to making the legal system fairer for everyone.