How one Brooklyn activist became the face of the resistance

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From managing a community association at age 25 to co-chairing the Women's March, Linda Sarsour has become a central figure in American progressive politics. Her work spans civil rights, immigration, and policing, making her both a powerful symbol of empowerment and a lightning rod for intense political controversy.

Born in Brooklyn to Palestinian immigrants, Linda Sarsour rose to prominence through her leadership of the Arab American Association of New York. After the death of her mentor, Basemah Atweh, in a 2005 car accident, Sarsour took over as executive director at age 25. During her tenure, she grew the organization's annual budget from $50,000 to $700,000 and successfully campaigned for the recognition of Islamic holidays in New York City public schools by 2015. She was raised in Sunset Park and attended John Jay High School. Her father operated a small market in Crown Heights called Linda's.

Sarsour’s activism has touched nearly every corner of modern American social justice movements. She has been a vocal advocate against police surveillance of Muslims, a leader in Black Lives Matter demonstrations—including traveling to Ferguson in 2014—and a lead plaintiff in legal challenges against the Trump administration's travel ban. Her influence was recognized in 2012 when the White House named her a Champion of Change. She also fought for the Community Safety Act to increase police oversight. Additionally, she was arrested during a protest at a Manhattan hotel.

However, her prominence has frequently invited scrutiny. Her support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and her advocacy for Palestinians in occupied territories have drawn criticism from conservative leaders and some Jewish organizations. This tension culminated in September 2019, when Sarsour and her co-chairs stepped down from the Women's March following controversies regarding the organization's handling of antisemitism. Despite these pressures, she remains a significant figure in the progressive movement, having served as a surrogate for Senator Bernie Sanders during his 2016 campaign. She has also advocated for a one-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Furthermore, she was profiled by Time magazine in 2017.

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