Tlaib, Omar highlight traditional Palestinian and Somali outfits for address

Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the first Muslim women elected to Congress, highlighted the traditional Somali and Palestinian outfits, respectively, they wore to the address.

“I’m joining my sisters in Congress in wearing white–my white #PalestinianThobe–to #SOTU,” Tlaib tweeted, referencing other woman Democratic congresswomen who wore white as a reference to the suffragist movement. “Being #unapologeticallyMe is my way of protesting this #ImpeachedPresident.”

“Yes sis, our presence is resistanceI am wearing my Ayeeyo’s Cambuur garbeed and bringing the Arawelo spirit to the people’s house,” Omar added, quote-tweeting Tlaib’s tweet.

Yes sis, our presence is resistance I am wearing my Ayeeyo’s Cambuur garbeed and bringing the Arawelo spirit to the people’s house. #firsts #RepresentationMatters #SOTU https://t.co/xOkZRB432y pic.twitter.com/a7GHiEo1uY

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 5, 2020

Omar and Tlaib’s fellow members of the “Squad” of progressive freshman congresswomen, Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), are both boycotting the address, although Pressley will deliver a response on behalf of the Working Families Party.