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Muslim civil rights and
advocacy group commends Muslims for turning out to vote despite ‘deep
frustration and disillusionment’ with both major parties
The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, today commended American Muslims for
turning out to vote in yesterday’s election despite deep frustration and
disillusionment with both major parties due to the genocide in Gaza.
CAIR also called on Democratic
elected officials to learn lessons from Vice President Harris' loss of
support among Muslims and other voters opposed to the Gaza genocide and
urged President-Elect Trump to prioritize fulfilling his campaign pledge
to pursue peace abroad, including an end to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR
also pledged to work with partners and allies in the coming months and
years to once again oppose the pursuit of any unjust or harmful domestic
or foreign policies by the new administration.
In a statement, CAIR
National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We commend American Muslim
voters for making their voices heard in races across the country, and up
and down the ballot, in the 2024 election.
"It is important for
Democratic and other elected officials to recognize that Vice President
Harris' steep drop in support in key states compared to President Biden's
2020 victory resulted, in part, from the deep frustration and
disillusionment that many young, Muslim, Arab, Black, and other voters
feel with the Biden-Harris administration due to its steadfast financial
and military support for Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
"The vice president's
failure to lay out any plan to end that genocide, such as suspending
weapons to Israel, combined with her refusal to let any
Palestinian-American speak at the DNC and her embrace of the war criminal
enthusiast Liz Cheney, made matters worse.
"Rather than listening to
the clear majority of American who support both a ceasefire and a
suspension of weapons to Israel, Vice President Harris only struck a
slightly more sympathetic tone toward Palestinians while sticking with
the substance of President Biden's disastrous stance. This led to an
unprecedented shift of support from Muslim, Arab, and other communities
who traditionally vote for Democratic presidents.
"No politician or party
has ownership of the Muslim vote. Going forward, we expect all elected
officials to genuinely address the urgent concerns of Muslim voters. This
includes President-Elect Trump.
"During the presidential
campaign, President-Elect Trump made efforts to connect with Muslim
voters in swing states, pledged to end bloodshed in the Gaza, and
condemned the Bush/Cheney-era policies that wreaked havoc in the Muslim
world.
"It is important for
President-Elect Trump to now recognize that most Americans, including
American Muslims who supported him, do not want to see more bigotry here
at home or more war overseas. The president-elect should fulfill his
campaign pledge to pursue peace abroad, including by ending the war on
Gaza. However, this must be a real peace based on justice, freedom and a
state for the Palestinian people.
"In the coming months,
American Muslims must mobilize in partnership with communities across
America to oppose any attempt to harm vulnerable communities, such as
launching a mass deportation of all undocumented families, reinstating
the Muslim Ban, or weaponizing the Justice Department against activists,
including college students speaking out against the Gaza genocide.
“In the face of new challenges
and opportunities, we look forward to continuing to work toward a more
just nation for the benefit of everyone in America and for people around
the world impacted by American policy.”
As CAIR mobilizes to advance
just policies and protect civil rights in the coming years, it plans to
prioritize:
Challenging Discriminatory
Immigration Policies: CAIR will work to counter
any reintroduction of travel bans targeting Muslims and African nations
or attempts to punish student activists supporting Palestinian
rights.
Opposing Surveillance and
Profiling: CAIR will intensify advocacy
against overreaching government programs that monitor and profile
American Muslims and push for transparent oversight of FBI surveillance
practices, border profiling and other discriminatory
measures.
Safeguarding Advocacy Rights
for Nonprofits: CAIR will defend Muslim,
Palestinian and other nonprofits from politically-motivated
investigations or threats to their tax-exempt status, ensuring
organizations can advocate without fear of retaliation.
Advocating for International
Human Rights: CAIR will continue calling
for an end to unconditional U.S. support for the far-right Israeli
government and will push for policies that uphold global human rights,
including for Uyghur, Sudanese, and Indian Muslims.
Establish Interest-Free
Student Loans: CAIR will campaign for a
comprehensive student loan reform plan that would address the student
debt crisis by establishing interest-free, principle-only student loans.
Countering Racism in
Policing: CAIR will urge passage of the
George Floyd Justice in Policing Act or similar actions to address police
brutality through administrative action.
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