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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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com