Karishma Manzur: Running a Grassroots Campaign for Senate (Live at Auspicious Brew)
Summary
Dr. Karishma Manzur discusses her Senate campaign, rooted in her family’s trauma from the 1971 Bangladesh war and her experiences with the US immigration system. She advocates for abolishing ICE, ending the war economy, and removing big money from politics to address crises in housing, healthcare, and education. Manzur encourages civic engagement through voting and volunteering, sharing personal stories of activism and service to inspire community involvement.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The money game and strategy to out-organize
Podcast origins and acknowledgments to venue and producer
Guest introduction: Dr. Karishma Manzur
Why run for Senate: Cost of living and stepping up
Civic engagement: Voting and getting off the couch
Personal history: The 1971 Bangladesh independence war
The cost of endless wars and national debt
Family trauma: Arrests and the Bedford incident
Immigration policy: Critique of Laken Riley Act
Personal immigration journey and call for humane system
Political implications of the Laken Riley Act
Early activism: Veganism and anti-war protests
9/11 experience: Volunteering with Red Cross at Ground Zero
Balancing activism with family and local nonprofits
Parenting challenges and the rise of NH Talk
Decision to run: Housing, wages, and healthcare
The campaign launch: Civil disobedience and collective action
Challenging the narrative of public service and money
Call to action: Volunteering, donating, and voting
Closing thoughts: Hope and prioritizing people
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