In the News

WSVN 7 (FOX MIAMI)

South Florida congresswoman invites Muslim-American to president's final address

By Brandon Beyer

WESTON, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida congresswoman has invited a special guest to tomorrow's State of the Union address as she takes a stand against hate.

As President Obama prepares for his final State of the Union address Tuesday night, several members of Congress, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz plan to make a statement with their plus one. "I conceived the notion of inviting a Muslim-American constituent," Wasserman-Schultz said, "and encouraging my colleagues to do so, so we can send a very strong message on the most important day of the year."

Wasserman-Schultz has invited Dr. Mohsin Jaffer, a Muslim-American who has lived in South Florida for 30 years. The Congresswoman is taking a stand against the discrimination of Muslim-Americans that many believe has gained momentum after the recent terror attacks in San Bernardino. "The rhetoric and vitriol that has been targeted at this community has been absolutely outrageous and unacceptable," she said.

Days after the attack, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made the following statement, "Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on."

Jaffer said he's looking forward to hearing the president and even though he disagrees with Trump, the fact that he's allowed to speak his mind is what makes our country great. "This is the greatness of our nation, that you can stand up and speak your mind," Jaffer said. "It's your opinion, but we, as a nation, discern what makes sense and what doesn't make sense."

The Congresswoman said that as many as 20 to 25 other members of Congress will also bring members from their community.

You can watch the president deliver his final State of the Union address to Congress and the nation Tuesday night at 9 p.m., right here on 7News.