Michigan Muslim community took an unusual and dramatic community when its leadership in Dearborn joined Donald Trump in a public rally and enthusiastically endorsed him to be the next President.
Right or wrong, the decision will have a far-reaching impact on the country's electoral process. It may lead Trump to the White House and bring Muslims as a critical component of Presidential and Congressional elections in crucial battleground states.
Ninety-three electoral college votes in Arizona, Georgia. Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. All these nine states have enough Muslim ballots to swing the election one way or the other.
Michigan's Muslim decision is likely to influence Muslim voters, especially in Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, handing the White House to the Republicans.
Muslims currently have three choices. They either vote for the Democratic Party, which they have supported overwhelmingly, the Republicans, or the Green Party. It appears that in non-battleground states, they may go green, while in crucial states, they may switch to Republicans.
Some Arab American leaders in Dearborn held a press conference at the Arab American Chamber of Commerce Building to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.
Their statement reads in part:
"Despite our deep disappointment and anger with the Biden administration's failed Middle East policies, we will not abandon our coalition partners. They share our horror over the killings and massive devastation in Gaza and Lebanon. They have stood with us in protest, as we have stood with them. As we see it, the stakes in this November's election are high for all Americans who care about peace, justice, and equity. It can be called an Armageddon election - one in which our very democracy and way of life will be on the ballot. There are profound and compelling differences between the two leading candidates.
Donald Trump has called for a Muslim ban and the arrest and deportation of 11 million hard-working immigrants who contribute to our economy, and internment camps. His xenophobia, bigotry, divisive rhetoric, and incitement to violence present a real threat to all Americans. He has not demonstrated any compassion for Palestinians, has not called for a
ceasefire and has, instead, urged Netanyahu to "finish the job."
Kamala Harris, on the other hand, from the earliest days of the war, has made clear her concern for Palestinian suffering. She was the first to call for a ceasefire and also to call for Palestinian self-determination. We would have hoped that she would have distanced herself from Biden's failed policies, but as a sitting vice president, we understand her hesitance.
But Arab Americans are not a single-issue people, we care about the environment, an existential issue for families and children, workers, rights and a fair wage, civil rights, women's rights and so much more."
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