News & Commentary written by Marwa Elessawy

Marwa Elessawy (she/her) is a paralegal at the ACLU’s Human Rights Program. She graduated summa cum laude from Drew University with a Specialized Honors B.A. in Political Science and B.S. in Economics. Across internships at the Brennan Center for Justice, ACLU’s National Political Advocacy Department, and Ironbound Community Corporation, Marwa has supported policy, research, and advocacy efforts around a diverse array of issues, such as campaign finance, voting rights, immigration, policing, criminal justice, and housing. Before joining the ACLU, Marwa was a legal intern at Davis Ndanusa Ikhlas & Saleem LLP, assisting clients in removal proceedings, seeking political asylum, and filing VAWA self-petitions. She was also writing an honors thesis that synthesized critiques of neoliberalism and postcolonial theory to explain the unfinished mission of the 2011 Egyptian revolution as well as the transformed political and economic roles of the Egyptian military, particularly in megaprojects. Marwa has spearheaded political education and community organizing efforts around racial justice, immigration, policing, and Palestine. She is passionate about economic justice, solidarity activism, and decolonizing international relations.