MICHIGAN: In Michigan’s Arab American and Muslim stronghold, residents are expressing growing discontent with President Joe Biden’s stance on the Gaza conflict, despite the state’s crucial role as a swing state in the presidential polls.
Political organizer Samra’a Luqman, of Yemeni origins, leads a campaign urging voters to reject Biden due to his support for Israel during the conflict, which has led to heightened civilian casualties in Gaza. Luqman’s group, Abandon Biden, advocates for voting “uncommitted” or writing in “Free Palestine” on ballots in the upcoming state primary, signaling a growing rift between Biden and traditionally Democratic-leaning communities.
Concerns over Biden’s foreign policy approach have resonated deeply in the Arab American and Muslim communities, with some residents viewing his actions as complicit in the loss of innocent lives in Gaza. Mohamed Alemara, a medical student of Iraqi descent, regrets his previous support for Biden, stating, “You don’t kill 30,000 of our people and expect us to vote for you.”
Even among union workers, traditionally a stronghold of Democratic support, frustration with Biden’s handling of the Gaza conflict is palpable. Merwan Beydoun, a steel mill worker and member of the United Autoworkers Union, has halted his political contributions to the union in protest of Biden’s stance.
Despite attempts by the Biden administration to portray the president as frustrated with Israel’s actions, many Arab American and Muslim voters remain unconvinced, citing ongoing U.S. support for Israel and the failure to broker a ceasefire in the conflict.
As the 2024 presidential polls loom, Biden faces mounting pressure to address the concerns of Arab American and Muslim voters in Michigan and beyond, with the potential for significant shifts in political allegiance if grievances are not addressed.
“My intention is to punish Biden for what he’s doing now,” says Luqman. “For the betrayal that he’s done to me and all the community members that have voted for him.”
