(WASHINGTON, DC – August 6, 2024) – CAIR Action, one of the nation’s leading Muslim 501(c)4 political organizations, today welcomed presidential hopeful Vice President Kamala Harris’ decision to choose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as the vice presidential nominee rather than Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who sparked widespread concern due to his long history of extreme anti-Palestinian positions, from weaponizing the power of the state to punish advocates for Palestinian human rights as governor to making racist remarks about Palestinians as a college student.
In a statement, CAIR Action Executive Director Basim Elkarra said:
“We are heartened that Vice President Harris heard the outcry from the community and chose to move forward with a unifying running mate who does not have a history of expressing anti-Palestinian racism, who has been more measured in his response to student protests against genocide, and who has expressed an appreciation for the Uncommitted Movement’s role in civic engagement in shaping the foreign policy of our country.
“We urge Vice President Harris and her new running mate, Governor Walz, to address the concerns of voters who abandoned President Biden by demanding an immediate and permanent end to the genocide in Gaza, implementing a weapons embargo of Israel, and pledging to take specific, concrete steps to end U.S. support for the oppression and occupation of the Palestinian people.”
Elkarra added, “The genocide continues in Gaza, and the horrendous images of innocent men, women, and children being slaughtered continue to be broadcasted to us in real time. As tensions rise in the region, we look to Vice President Harris and Governor Walz to lead with compassion and chart a different course than the disastrous last ten months of the Biden Administration.”
As the team prepares to visit battleground states, polling published by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) shows the war in Gaza remains the top issue of concern for Muslim voters; Muslim swing voters, due to their numbers, will likely decide this election.
SEE: Winning Muslim Votes: A Policy Priority Analysis in Swing States
CAIR Action is a 501(c)4 organization. Our mission is to engage, educate, and mobilize Muslim voters, train emerging leaders, and champion policy priorities that enhance the well-being and representation of Muslim communities. Through our work, we aim to foster a more equitable and inclusive democratic society where the rights and voices of Muslims are acknowledged and respected.
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CONTACT:
Basim Elkarra, Executive Director, CAIR Action [email protected]
CAIR Action Communications, [email protected]
