Wassim Kanaan Endorses Imani Oakley for Congress

Montclair, NJ — Palestinian-American community organizer and advocate Wassim Kanaan has endorsed Imani Oakley, who is running for Congress from New Jersey’s 10th District.

“I support Imani for Congress because of her unapologetic advocacy for the working class and all marginalized peoples,” said Kanaan. “I trust Imani to go to DC and advocate for equitable education, economic, and housing policy: something that people here in New Jersey and across the United States are in dire need of. The New Jersey political machine has been choosing our elected officials for us for way too long and it’s time that we send a strong, honest, progressive voice from the state of New Jersey —specifically from a district like the 10th District of New Jersey — to Washington, D.C.”

“It is an honor to have the endorsement of an advocate and organizer as trusted as Wassim Kanaan,” said Oakley. “The only way to beat a political machine is with a people-powered political movement, and Wassim is such an integral part of building that movement here in New Jersey. Having his trust and support is incredibly inspiring and I pledge to keep earning that trust every single day in Congress.”

Oakley — a political organizer who has worked hard to combat systemic injustice in all its forms — is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District on a platform that includes environmental justice, investment in public schools, Medicare for All, comprehensive immigration reform, and international human rights. She is an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights and has pledged to vote against military aid to the State of Israel.

The incumbent, Rep. Payne Jr., has actively blocked efforts to promote peace and justice in Palestine, including signing a letter alongside far-right-wing Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz urging Congress not to condition aid to the State of Israel, even in the case of major human rights abuses. He has also voted against the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Movement, a non-violent international Palestinian rights movement, and voted for a number of increases in the Israeli military budget.

This endorsement adds to the progressive coalition growing around Oakley’s campaign, including from Brand New Congress, Catch Fire, the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, West Orange Young Democrats, Building Bridges For America, Roadmap for Progress, FutureGen PAC, four local Sunrise Movement hubs, Black Lives Matter activist Zellie Imani, Mt. Rainier Vice Mayor Scott Cecil, Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis, Muslim community leader and civil rights advocate Selaedin Maksut, and former progressive presidential candidate Marianne Williamson.

“We are building a progressive movement aimed at the forces hurting our communities,” Oakley said. “As Congresswoman, I will work tirelessly to win a future for our children and our planet.”

Imani Oakley is a long-time political organizer and pro-democracy activist running for Congress in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District. The seat covers parts of Essex, Union, and Hudson counties. Her time working in New Jersey political spaces has made one thing clear: our state suffers from rabid corruption. Her campaign is dedicated to ending this system and lifting up working-class communities.

For more information about Imani, please visit: OakleyforCongress.com