Michigan Muslims send clear message to Biden on Gaza

In a smashing display of dissent, Democratic voters in Michigan have dealt a strong message to President Joe Biden for his staunch support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The unprecedented move saw Biden’s share of the vote reduced by the “uncommitted” option in the primary. [1] [2]

Contents

What does “uncommitted” actually mean?Capital of Arab America rises up A wake-up call for Democrats Biden faces pressure as dissent spreads Analysis Also read

Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Sally Howell, said of the 27 February developments,

“I think it’s historic. And for Arab American political participation, it’s really groundbreaking.

“I don’t think they’ve ever gotten the attention of a presidential campaign like they have it now.” [1]

What does “uncommitted” actually mean?

With over 95 per cent of votes counted, the latest figures from 1 March show Biden as having received 623,415 votes, or 81.1 per cent of the total. [3]

While, ordinarily, this would be an impressive victory for the incumbent candidate, the President lost a staggering 13.2 per cent (101,436) of votes to the “uncommitted” option on the ballot. [3]

To put it simply, voters in the state of Michigan truly showed their power on 27 February by signing a vote of no confidence in Biden’s management of the Gaza genocide.

I know nothing, so I asked ChatGPT: What is the best path for President Biden to win in November?

A) move your position on Gaza and court traditional democratic voters

OR

b) court Nikki Haley voters thinking they’re more likely to vote for you than Trump. pic.twitter.com/BsjnZVaGHV
— Abdullah H. Hammoud (@AHammoudMI) March 7, 2024

Capital of Arab America rises up

Michigan is regularly acknowledged as the capital of Arab America, and it has taken centre-stage in a historic protest against Washington’s explicit backing of the apartheid state’s murderous campaign in Gaza.

Prior to the vote, the grassroots movement Listen to Michigan said on its website,

“Frustrated with the lack of response, we are now turning to a more traditional method of democratic expression: our voting power.” [4]

Specifically on the Gaza situation, the group has stated,

“The devastation in Gaza [is] a crisis we feel intimately connected to, as it impacts our friends, families, and broader communities.

“Despite our efforts through protests, letters, calls, and demonstrations, our pleas seem to fall on deaf ears while the tragedy in Gaza escalates.” [2]

A wake-up call for Democrats

Ahead of the November presidential election, the sheer magnitude of this protest has sent shock-waves through the Democratic establishment.

Biden and his allies need to wake up to the reality and recognise that this one vote could be replicated in other communities; such groups of aligned votes cannot be ignored.

Huwaida Arraf, a prominent Palestinian-American human rights lawyer, labelled the “uncommitted” vote as “huge”. [1]

In emphasising its significance in challenging Biden’s pro-Israel agenda, she shared with Al Jazeera,

“Tuesday’s showing of no confidence in Biden, anger with Biden and people’s willingness to use their vote to express that extreme discontent should have the Biden team and all Democrats very, very worried.

“Tuesday’s 101,000 votes do not fully convey the growing frustration at Biden’s policies.” [1]

Biden faces pressure as dissent spreads

The US is the Zionist state’s key backer in funding and diplomacy, but President Biden’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has come under especially intense scrutiny during this round of devastation, with critics accusing his administration of turning a blind eye to Israel’s completely disproportionate use of force in Gaza. [2]

In Hamtramck — said to be the only Muslim-majority city in the country — the ballot category “uncommitted” received 61 per cent of the votes, while Biden received a lowly 32 per cent. [1]

With Michigan’s “uncommitted” vote for Gaza, it highlights the growing momentum of movements that are demanding accountability and justice.

For Biden and the Democratic Party, the message is clear, as put into words by Palestinian-American comedian and protest supporter Amer Zahr,

“Now, the work continues.

“We must stay the course of denying Biden our votes. For the martyrs in Gaza. For our dignity.” [1]

Analysis

ANALYSIS

Shaheer Choudhury

Head of Editorial

Timed to perfection

The timing of the US primary in Michigan and the UK by-election in Rochdale appeared to almost be deliberately in step.

On 27 February, voters cast their ballots to decide who would be the Democratic candidate for the November presidential election; on 29 February, voters took to polling stations to decide the next representative in the Greater Manchester town of Rochdale.

Both sets of results have revealed similar messages: that the electorate are totally opposed to the Gaza genocide and the politicians at the top of the establishment that are providing the apartheid state with its desperately needed cover.

Well done, Michigan

To the people of the Great Lakes State, you have succeeded in embarrassing Biden, despite his solid result in the primary.

He could have easily walked away with an eye-watering 94.3 per cent of the vote, were it not for his outrageous continued inaction on the Israeli murder of 30,000+ Palestinians.

Co-ordinated action is making a major impact and to see that this protest vote bagged nearly 15 per cent of all ballots cast with third and fourth-placed candidates Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips receiving a paltry 3 and 2.7 per cent respectively, greater damage can be inflicted on the federal government, unless and until support for Israel ends.

The next step will be looking closely at primaries in Illinois (19 March), New York (2 April), New Jersey (4 June), and Maryland (14 May) — all states with over three per cent of the population being Muslim, according to the World Population Review.