Emgage

Government & Politics

Inside Biden’s broken relationship with Muslim and Arab American leaders Even as the president piles new pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza, those who have called most passionately for him to change course say it is too little, too late.

May 10, 2024 and   

(NY Times) Seven months into Israel’s war in Gaza, Muslim and Arab American leaders say their channels of communication with President Biden’s White House have largely broken down, leaving the administration without a politically valuable chorus of support for his significant shift […]

Government & Politics

Muslim and Arab American voters part ways with President Biden over his foreign policy Among Muslim and Arab American voters, this disapproval of President Biden’s foreign policy has taken the form of an active campaigning against his reelection.

January 19, 2024   

(Religion News) Before she was elected to Georgia’s House of Representatives two years ago, Ruwa Romman, the first Palestinian American to hold any office in Georgia, campaigned for Joe Biden in 2020 in Atlanta’s northeast suburbs, which she now represents. Today, Romman, […]

Government & Politics

Cornel West courts Muslim and Arab-American voters in quest for presidency West has said Muslim and Arab communities 'hold a special place in my heart.'

January 12, 2024 and   

(ABC) Independent presidential candidate Cornel West has been courting a group President Joe Biden may struggle to attract in the upcoming 2024 election: Muslim and Arab-American voters. Muslim and Arab community leaders rallied around the prominent activist, author and philosopher by recently […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Before Trump, a low-profile congressman named Ron DeSantis sought a ‘Muslim travel ban’ Muslim groups warn that Republican rhetoric and the party's policy agenda inflame an already fraught situation amid rising threats and violence against the community.

November 30, 2023   

(NBC) In 2017, President Donald Trump triggered national outrage for implementing a so-called Muslim travel ban, blocking U.S. admissions for travelers from predominantly Muslim countries. The move prompted widespread protests and legal challenges, and Joe Biden rescinded it in one of his first […]

Government & Politics

New details on Biden’s private apology to Muslim Americans for rhetoric on Palestinian civilians One meeting attendee 'respectfully challenged' the president over his tone.

November 29, 2023 and   

(ABC) As President Joe Biden tries to find a balance between supporting Israel and showing concern for the plight of Palestinian civilians, new details are emerging about how emotions spilled over during a private White House meeting last month between him, his […]

Academics & Education

She praised Islamic terror groups. Then the Biden admin tapped her to address ‘hate and threats of violence’ Palestine Legal manager Lina Assi has called Hezbollah 'crucial and important'

November 28, 2023   

(Free Beacon) Education Secretary Miguel Cardona hosted a meeting this month with an anti-Israel activist who has praised Hamas and Hezbollah and called for violence against Israel. Cardona on Nov. 15 met with 13 activists — including Palestine Legal advocacy manager Lina […]

Government & Politics

Swing-state Muslim Americans threaten to vote against Biden Muslim Americans voted overwhelmingly for Biden. But community leaders in swing states tell NBC News that the president's handling of the war in Gaza risks losing their support.

October 31, 2023 and   

(NBC) As Israel’s U.S-backed war against Hamas intensifies and Palestinian civilian deaths mount, a growing number of swing-state Muslim American and Arab American leaders are warning President Joe Biden that he is losing support from their communities in ways that could cost […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

With no fanfare or acknowledgment, Biden hosts White House meeting with Muslim leaders 'The optics don’t look good,' an attendee said, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk freely about the discussion with Biden.

October 27, 2023   

(NBC) President Joe Biden quietly hosted a meeting Thursday for a handful of Muslim leaders, according to four sources familiar with the White House gathering, as he faces pressure from the Arab American community over what they contend is his comparative disregard […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

‘The man broke my heart’: Biden’s Arab-American boosters begin to leave his side These Arab-Americans were among Biden’s biggest fans. Now they’re warning they — and others — could abandon him in 2024.

October 23, 2023   

(Politico) Maysoon Zayid, a Palestinian American comedian, did everything she could to get Joe Biden elected in 2020. She starred in a comedy event boosting him. She spoke on a call organized by the Biden campaign featuring Arab women supporting him. Biden’s […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

‘I will never vote Biden’: Some Muslim Americans in a key swing state feel betrayed by the president Muslim and Arab Americans say their support was critical to Biden’s winning Michigan in 2020. Some warn they won’t back him again over his blanket support for Israel.

October 21, 2023 , and   

(NBC) As President Joe Biden declared unwavering support for Israel in the days after Hamas’ terror attack in Israel, Ahmad Ramadan, a former Biden adviser now leading coalition efforts for the Michigan Democratic Party, called the state party chair to raise the […]

Government & Politics

McCarthy blocks Rashida Tlaib’s anti-Semitic congressional event 'As long as I’m speaker, we are going to support Israel’s right to self-determination and self-defense'

May 9, 2023   

(Free Beacon) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy moved on Tuesday evening to block Michigan’s Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib from hosting an anti-Semitic congressional event planned for Wednesday, the speaker’s office confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon. McCarthy told the Free Beacon that he […]

Government & Politics

Rashida Tlaib will host congressional event to mourn ‘catastrophe’ of Israel’s founding Anti-Semitic Democrat will cohost event with radical groups that defend terrorists

May 8, 2023   

(Free Beacon) Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) will host a congressional event this week to mourn Israel’s founding alongside an array of anti-Israel groups, some of which have defended terrorism. The Wednesday event marks the “Nakba,” a Palestinian term for the creation […]

Government & Politics

Biden renominates board member at anti-Israel group to Small Business Administration Senate Republicans blocked Dilawar Syed's nomination in 2021 over affiliation with anti-Israel group Emgage

January 3, 2023   

(Free Beacon) The Biden administration will renominate a board member at an anti-Israel group to help lead the Small Business Administration, one year after the nominee was blocked by Republicans, according to the Wall Street Journal. Dilawar Syed served on the board […]

Government & Politics

US Muslim organisations see bright future for community’s candidates Though there are no new Muslim faces in public office at the national level from the latest US midterms, organisers from Muslim groups expect that to change in the next decade.

November 12, 2022   

(New Arab) Looking at the long-term prospects of political leaders in their community, organisers with Muslim groups see a bright future for Muslim candidates. While this year’s midterms didn’t see the slew of wins for Muslims that the previous two elections did, […]

Government & Politics

Muslim Americans make historic gains in 2022 midterm elections 'When Muslims run for office today, in 2022 and beyond, ... it's rewarded by voters,' said Mohammed Missouri, executive director of Jetpac, a nonprofit that works to increase Muslim representation in US government and politics.

November 11, 2022   

(Religion News) Nabeela Syed made history in this year’s midterms when she defeated a Republican incumbent in Illinois’ 51st District, making her the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly and among the first Muslims elected to the state Legislature. “It is […]

Government & Politics

In run-up to midterms, Muslim groups, mosques push for voter engagement 'The local work is allowing us to expand voting rights so more people can vote for our candidates,' said Nada Al-Hanooti, executive director of Emgage’s Michigan chapter.

November 5, 2022   

(Religion News) Community organizer Nada Al-Hanooti insists local city council politics hold just as much power as elections on the national and federal levels. As proof, she cites voter outreach efforts in southeast Michigan that in 2021 helped elect the city of […]

Government & Politics

Activist with history of antisemitism campaigned with several Democrats over the last year, posts reveal Maher Abdel Qader previously garnered media attention due to his close ties to 'Squad' member Rashida Tlaib

June 22, 2022 and   

(Fox) A Palestinian activist with a history of antisemitic social media posts and deep ties to “Squad” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., has campaigned with multiple Democrats over the last year, Fox News Digital has learned. Maher Abdel Qader, who has deep political ties […]

Government & Politics

New poll reveals how much we presume about Muslim Americans’ politics Two decades after 9/11, Americans are still getting to know their Muslim neighbors. New data may help.

October 15, 2021   

(Religion News) Twenty years ago, Americans hardly gave their Muslim neighbors a thought. Then came 9/11, and our opinions suddenly blossomed. Two decades later we may be past assuming that Muslims want to topple the American government, but other supposed givens — […]

Government & Politics

‘Politics is power’: American Muslim groups ramp up voting drives ahead of upcoming general elections American Muslims are becoming an important voting bloc, but engagement needs to be an ongoing habit, not just for general elections, say advocates.

September 30, 2021   

(New Arab) America’s general election was less than a year ago, but with local, state and midterm elections fast approaching, and with early voting already well underway, Muslim groups are wasting no time in getting their community out to vote. “We’re often […]

Christians

Faith groups accuse GOP senators of ‘apparent anti-Muslim animus’ for stalling Biden nominee 'We are deeply concerned by the apparent anti-Muslim animus driving this unprecedented action against Dilawar Syed,' the religious groups wrote in a letter to the Senate committee.

August 9, 2021   

(Religion News) A group of faith-based denominations and organizations is criticizing lawmakers for stalling votes on a high-level nomination by President Joe Biden, accusing Republican senators of “apparent anti-Muslim animus” for holding up the confirmation of what would be the highest-ranking Muslim […]

Government & Politics

Terry McAuliffe touts endorsement from anti-Israel group Endorsement from pro-BDS activist group raises questions about VA Dem's approach to Israel

July 6, 2021   

(Free Beacon) Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe welcomed an endorsement from an activist group that staunchly defends the anti-Israel boycott movement, calling into question his past opposition to the campaign. In a June tweet, McAuliffe said he was “tremendously grateful” to […]

Academics & Education

US Muslim student groups drop Emgage from voter mobilisation event Yale University's Muslim Student Association faced calls to drop Emgage and Farooq Mitha from its programming

October 23, 2020   

(Middle East Eye) Muslim student groups at more than 30 US universities have dropped Emgage, a Muslim political advocacy group that has come under fierce criticism in recent weeks over its ties with pro-Israel groups, from an event aimed at mobilising young voters. The event, hosted […]