2024-02-23 08:01:33
Because of Gaza… Arab Americans are determined to “punish” Biden in the elections
In Dearborn, in the northern United States, where the Arabic language is often used in stores, many residents confirm that the Gaza war hits them to the core, and they intend to “punish” US President Joe Biden at the ballot boxes, because of his support for Israel, according to a report prepared by “Agence France-Presse.” ».
In front of a mosque in a suburb of Detroit, where a large portion of the population has Arab and Muslim origins, Samra Luqman distributes leaflets.
Samra Luqman distributes leaflets in front of a mosque in Dearborn (AFP)
The young woman says to the worshipers leaving the mosque after Friday prayers: “Vote for Palestine… not for Biden.” Several people respond, including: “Absolutely.”
Samra Luqman is an official in the “Abandon Biden” campaign in Michigan, one of the main states that weighs the outcome of the presidential elections, and where every vote has weight. Samra’s goal is simple: to overthrow Biden in the elections in which he is trying to win a second term, on November 5.
The Yemeni-born activist asserts that the Democratic president “is not only complicit in genocide, but also commits genocide and finances it,” by providing aid to Israel.
In 2020, Biden won the state of Michigan against Republican Donald Trump. However, an opinion poll showed a short time ago that Biden is lagging behind his opponent this year.
Former US President Donald Trump (Reuters)
Luqman adds: “The only way for me to vote for Biden is to bring 30,000 people back to life,” referring to the number of deaths in the Gaza war.
The war broke out on October 7, after the Palestinian Hamas movement launched an unprecedented attack inside Israeli territory, resulting in more than 1,160 deaths, the majority of them civilians, according to a count by the agency based on official Israeli data. On the other hand, 29,410 people were killed in the Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were children and women.
Biden “never”
Luqman urges voters not to choose Biden during the Democratic primary elections, on February 27, in Michigan, but rather to vote with a blank paper or write “Free Palestine” on the card.
Abbas Alawiya, spokesman for Listen to Michigan, confirmed to the agency that “the goal is to put pressure on the president to demand a permanent ceasefire,” and to show him that the voters who contributed to his victory can withdraw their support for him.
This initiative, which made a call to boycott Biden during the primary elections, was formed by many, including Laila Al-Abd, the sister of the Democratic representative from Michigan, Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian origin.
“Within this group, many people were directly affected by the war,” says the Lebanese-born Democratic strategist, who was director of the office of left-wing representatives in Washington for several years.
Abbas Alawiya warns that Democrats “may lose this group not only in November, but perhaps for an entire generation.”
Muhammad Al-Amara, a 23-year-old medical student of Iraqi origin, came to attend a religious-spiritual meeting at a school.
Abbas Alawiya (AFP)
The young man voted for Biden in 2020. But today he says: “That was the worst mistake of my life,” stressing that “you cannot kill 30,000 people and expect us to vote for you.”
No to Biden…yes to Trump?
Although she voted for the Democrats in the last elections, 27-year-old nurse Fatima Al-Saghir confirms that she is ready to vote for Trump. She explains: “I think I will choose the lesser of two evils, and right now Trump is the lesser of two evils.”
In light of the lack of understanding that often arouses the choice of voting for Trump, who during his previous term issued a controversial immigration decree that targeted Islamic countries, Samra Luqman says she is well aware of the bet, adding: “We are not stupid. “My goal is to punish Biden.”
Addressing those who doubt the validity of this option, Abbas Alawiya says: “How dare you say to me: ‘Later you will bear responsibility for what Trump does.’” Don’t come to me. Call your representatives and tell them that you want a ceasefire. When the bloodshed stops, we can talk about the political repercussions.”
In this region, which is considered the cradle of the automobile industry, many workers, the majority of whom are members of unions with leftist leanings, are also expressing their anger.
Marwan Baydoun works in a steel factory and is a member of the United Auto Workers (UAW), which has announced its support for the current US president. Baydoun confirms that he is “very angry” at Biden’s support for Israel, and announced that he will stop contributing to the UAW’s Political Action Fund, but will remain a member of it.
Marwan Baydoun (AFP)
Beydoun remained “very supportive of the Democrats” for a long time, and a major supporter of the union movement, but he prefers not to say how he will vote in the presidential elections, and stresses that Biden “must wake up” and change his policy. If he wants to get his support.
But the day before yesterday, the US administration once again used its veto power in the Security Council to disrupt the adoption of a draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
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