Congresswoman Analia Mejia — the first Afro-Latina elected to Congress — joins HOT 97’s Mornings with Mero to break down the state of American politics, from the rising cost of living and student debt crisis to ICE raids in New Jersey and the erosion of democracy. She shares why she transitioned from a 25-year career as an organizer to running for office, her fight for Medicare for All, and her experience protesting outside Delaney Hall detention center before eventually being elected and returning as a sitting member of Congress. Plus, she explains why young people are more politically engaged than ever and makes her pitch to undecided voters as someone who is “unbought and unbossed.”
Topics Covered:
Youth political engagement and the cost of living crisis
Rising authoritarianism and the current administration’s impact on everyday Americans
ICE enforcement in New Jersey and the Haitian community
Conditions inside Delaney Hall detention center
The influence of corporate money in Congress
Her organizing background: raising the minimum wage, paid sick leave, and paid family leave in New Jersey
The Shirley Chisholm connection and making history as the first Afro-Latina in Congress
Key Quotes:
“People on the margins are the margin of victory.”
“The pain you are feeling is real. You’re not crazy.”
“You wanna send someone that’s unbought and unbossed — and that’s me.”
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