Free Republic

State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, a West Philadelphia Democrat who took office after a March special election, will resign after being charged with perjury, theft, tampering with public records, and related crimes Wednesday. Johnson-Harrell used her nonprofit to enrich herself, ---SNIP--- Johnson-Harrell, 53, was the first Muslim woman to serve in the Pennsylvania state legislature. Reducing gun violence has been her top issue as a lawmaker. Her father, brother, and 18-year-old son were all killed by gun violence. She was elected to represent the 190th Legislative District in West Philadelphia after Vanessa Lowery Brown was convicted of bribery

FULL TITLE: Pa. Legislature’s first Muslim woman calls prayer delivered by fellow House member blatant ‘Islamophobia’ A first-year member of the Pennsylvania House on Monday offered a prayer laden with political and Christian imagery shortly before the swearing in of the chamber’s first Muslim woman. Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Clinton, said “Jesus” 13 times, “God” six times, and “Lord” four times, as Raging Chicken Press writer Sean Kitchen first noted on Twitter. She also expressed thanks to God that President Donald Trump “stands besides Israel” in a rambling, nearly two minute prayer. “Jesus, you are our only hope,” Borowicz said during...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The first female Muslim member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives said Tuesday she was offended by a colleague's decision to open a voting session with a prayer a day earlier that "at the name of Jesus every knee will bow." Democratic Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell of Philadelphia said she felt the remarks by Rep. Stephanie Borowicz shortly before Johnson-Harrell took the oath of office on Monday used her religion against her. "I thought that for the most part, the entire invocation was offensive," Johnson-Harrell told reporters, noting that her own religion respects Jesus. "But to use...