Sarah Jama | |
|---|---|
 Jama in 2024 | |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre | |
| Assumed office 16 March 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Andrea Horwath |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1994/1995 (age 29–30)[1] |
| Political party | Independent (2023–present) |
| Other political affiliations | New Democratic (2022–2023) |
| Residence(s) | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | McMaster University |
| Occupation |
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| Website | www |
Sarah Jama MPP (born 1994 or 1995)[1] is a Canadian politician and disability justice activist who has served as the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since March 2023.
Jama became involved in accessibility advocacy and pro-Palestine advocacy as a student at McMaster University. She later co-founded the Disability Justice Network Ontario in 2018 and the Hamilton Encampment Support Network in 2021, focusing on affordable housing access.[1] In 2021, Jama was arrested by police in Beasley Park in central Hamilton at a protest against homeless encampment evictions in the city, but the charges against her were dropped.[2]
Jama was elected as the MPP for Hamilton Centre in March 2023 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP).[3] She replaced Andrea Horwath, who stepped down as MPP to run for the mayor of Hamilton.[3]
On October 10, 2023, three days after the 2023 Israel-Hamas war began, Jama made a social media post criticising the conflict and calling for an end to the "occupation"; she did not directly mention the Hamas October 7 attack that killed over 1,000 Israeli civilians and saw approximately 150 people taken hostage.[4] She later apologised for any possible offense to Jewish or Israeli Canadian constituents, but did not retract the post.[4] On October 23, 2023, the NDP removed Jama from of its caucus, with party leader Marit Stiles stating that Jama had taken a "number of unilateral actions that have undermined our collective work and broken the trust of her colleagues."[5] Jama has since served as an independent MPP. In October 2023, the legislature voted to censure Jama in response to her comments.
- ^ a b c Nicoll, Doreen (13 May 2022). "Sarah Jama works for justice for everyone". Rabble.
- ^ "Hamilton police arrest 3 people in connection to events at J.C. Beemer park; Arrests come days after police and protesters clashed during encampment eviction," CBC, November 26, 2021.
- ^ a b Hristova, Bobby (16 March 2023). "NDP's Sarah Jama elected as next MPP for Hamilton Centre". CBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ a b Beattie, Samantha (11 October 2023). "Hamilton NDP MPP apologizes after comments about Israel-Hamas conflict". CBC News.
- ^ Beattie, Samantha (23 October 2023). "Ontario NDP kicks Hamilton MPP Sarah Jama from caucus after controversial Gaza comments". CBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2023.