Maya Soetoro-Ng
Template:TOCnestleft Maya Soetoro-Ng (born August 15, 1970 in Jakarta, Indonesia) is the younger half-sister of U.S. president Barack Obama. Her parents were Lolo Soetoro and Stanley Ann Dunham - who in her previous marriage (1961) to Barak Obama Sr., had given birth to Barack Obama.[1] She has stated that she is a Buddhist.[2]
Soetoro-Ng and her husband Konrad Ng have a child named Suhaila who was born in 2005.[3]
Early Life
Soetoro-Ng, who is nine years younger than her maternal half-brother Barack Obama was born in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 15, 1970. Following her divorce from Barak Obama Sr. in Jan. 1964, their mother had married Lolo Soetoro, whom she met at the East-West Center on the University of Hawaii campus - the same place where she had met her first husband.[2]
Relationship with Barack Obama
Soetoro-Ng has stated that she and Obama share the same taste in music, literature and philosophy.[3]
Communist "front" presentation
In June 2008, Communist Party USA leader and Executive Director of Cesar E. Chavez National Holiday, Evelina Alarcon presented a poster from the organization to Barack Obama's younger sister Maya Soetoro-Ng at a gathering in East Los Angeles[4].
- Addressing a largely Latino audience in East Los Angeles yesterday, Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng shared stories about her childhood with her older brother, Barack Obama, and the effect he has had on her life. Held in El Sereno’s Hecho en Mexico restaurant, the event drew more than a hundred enthusiastic community activists, local elected officials, and regular citizens...
- Evelina Alarcon, a notable Obama supporter and the sister of long-time Los Angeles politician Richard Alarcon, presented a poster to Obama’s sister commemorating the life of Cesar Chavez.
- Alarcon recounted the accomplishments of the late Chicano leader and argued persuasively for honoring his accomplishments with a national holiday. Reminding those in attendance that Barack Obama supports the call to make Cesar Chavez’s birthday a national holiday. Alarcon trusts that if Obama is elected president the holiday will become a reality.
- Obama has been quoted recently to say:“As farmworkers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago and we should honor him for what he’s taught us about making America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation. That’s why I support the call to make Cesar Chavez’s birthday a national holiday. It’s time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union.”
Clearly "designed to draw support to her brother’s presidential candidacy" from two key voting blocs—women and Latinos— the event was organized by State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, State Senator Martha Escutia (ret.), State Board of Equalization Chair Judy Chu, Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick, Los Angeles City Councilmember Ed Reyes, and Los Angeles Unified School District Vice President Yolie Flores-Aguilar[5].
2008 Election Campaign
At the end of 2007, Soetoro-Ng took two months off from her various teaching jobs in Honolulu, campaigning for Obama's nomination as the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. She stated that she had 4 bumper stickers on her car, one stating: “1-20-09. End of an Error" and the other stating: "Women for Obama".[2]
On May 12, 2007 Soetoro Ng who was joined by her husband Konrad Ng and their 2-year-old daughter, Suhaila addressed approximately 100 Obama supporters in Hawaii where she stated that they planned to be active in the islands and would campaign on the U.S. mainland if needed in support Barack Obama's run for president.[3]
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, on February 16, 2013, held "our most successful gala ever" at the magnificent Monarch Room of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, attended by over 400 political and community leaders.
During dinner, Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng accepted the Bette Takahashi Service Award given to Madelyn Dunham, President Barack Obama’s grandmother, posthumously. Ms. Dunham served on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of Hawaii starting in 1976.
The Bette Takahashi Service Award is given in recognition of Ms. Dunham’s commitment to women’s rights, reproductive freedom, and her enormous positive influence on our President in his formative years. During the presentation, guests watched a tribute video from President Obama, Love and Values of a Quiet Hero , produced by Rai Saint Chu, Gala Advisory Committee Chair.
Rep. Marilyn Lee, Governor Neil Abercrombie, Senator Mazie Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, and Mayor Kirk Caldwell attended the event. Co-Chairs of the event, Chivas Nousianen and Karen McKinnie, were in attendance, as were Honorary Co-Chairs Dr. Nancie Caraway and Dr. Linda Schatz.[6]
References
- ↑ Barack Obama on Biography.com
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 New York Times: Interview with Maya Soetoro-Ng, Jan. 20, 2008
- ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 3.2 Washington Times: Obama's Sister Debuts as Campaigner, May 12, 2007
- ↑ http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/06/22/barack%E2%80%99s-sister-brings-the-heat-to-el-sereno/
- ↑ http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/06/22/barack%E2%80%99s-sister-brings-the-heat-to-el-sereno/
- ↑ Planned Parenthood of HawaiiVolume 2013 Issue 1 • June 2013