Murphy Announces People's State of the Union Guest, Fereshteh Ganjavi, Afghan Refugee And CT Nonprofit Founder

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday announced he has invited Fereshteh Ganjavi as his guest for the People's State of the Union, a rally on the National Mall counterprogramming President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress.

A refugee from Afghanistan, Ganjavi is the Founder and Executive Director of Elena's Light, a Connecticut-based nonprofit dedicated to helping refugee women and children integrate into the United States, and whose services include Know Your Rights trainings, ESL and citizenship test classes, legal assistance, and health and wellness programs.

"I could not be prouder to have Fereshteh - a real Connecticut hero - as my guest for the People's State of the Union," said Murphy. "We know Trump is going to shamelessly lie to the American people about his cruel, failed policies, so our rally will highlight the people who are directly impacted by Trump's brutality. That's why I'm bringing Fereshteh: after coming to this country, she used her experience to support other refugees and has stood on the frontlines against Trump's terror campaign on immigrant families. As Trump's immigration crackdown sows chaos in our communities, advocates like Fereshteh show us the path forward through an unwavering commitment to supporting our communities."