Dearborn, Michigan – When Fox Information known as Pennsylvania for Donald Trump within the early hours of Wednesday, all however confirming that he would be the subsequent president of the USA, a handful of Arab activists remained at a viewing celebration in Dearborn, Michigan.
“Genocide is unhealthy coverage,” mentioned one attendee on the occasion, which had Palestinian and Lebanese flags hanging outdoors its doorways.
And whereas the fact of one other Trump presidency unleashed the anger and grief of many Democratic commentators, there was a way of indifference, if not vindication, on the Arab-American assembly.
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris had ignored neighborhood calls to rethink the USA’ unconditional help for Israel. The vp additionally continued to affirm what she calls “Israel’s proper to defend itself” regardless of brutal atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon.
Activist Adam Abusalah mentioned a part of the rationale Harris misplaced was her determination to facet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the price of alienating the Democratic base: Arab and Muslim Individuals, in addition to younger and the progressives.
“It isn’t our fault. They can not vilify our neighborhood,” Abusalah mentioned.
“Now we have been warning Democrats for over a yr and Democrats proceed to downplay what is occurring.”
He added that Harris’ major message to the Arab neighborhood was to warn of the risks of a Trump presidency, a tactic that didn’t work as voters within the space have been targeted on the continued struggle within the Center East that was affecting many personally. of them. .
dearborn shift
Within the predominantly Arab suburb of Dearborn, anger over Israel’s US-backed assault on Gaza and Lebanon was tangible on the polls.
Harris misplaced town to Trump by greater than 2,600 votes. President Joe Biden defeated Trump by greater than 17,400 votes, that’s, greater than 20,000 votes that helped the previous Republican president win again Michigan.
Candidate Jill Stein, who centered opposition to the struggle in her platform, additionally carried out comparatively properly within the metropolis, rising help for the Inexperienced Social gathering from 207 votes in 2020 to greater than 7,600 this yr.
Hussein Dabajeh, a Lebanese-American political guide within the Detroit space, famous that Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib considerably outperformed Harris in Dearborn, receiving greater than 9,600 votes than the vp.
“The Arab neighborhood mentioned we’re towards genocide. We supported candidates who supported the neighborhood and opposed candidates who opposed the neighborhood,” Dabajeh instructed Al Jazeera.
It is unclear what a Trump presidency would imply for Arab and Muslim Individuals and the nation as an entire.
“I hope it is one thing good. I hope the nation unites. I hope the Democrats come to their senses,” Dabajeh mentioned.
Whereas the previous president has an extended historical past of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant statements and insurance policies, he has promised to deliver “peace” to the area.
Trump additionally softened his antagonistic tone towards Arabs and Muslims whereas courting their communities in Michigan.
He introduced Arab and Muslim officers and imams on stage throughout his rallies and known as them “nice individuals.”
Trump additionally visited Dearborn and heard firsthand the calls for to finish the struggle, one thing Harris didn’t do.
‘This does not finish right here’
Ali Alfarjalla, a 32-year-old Iraqi-American actual property agent in Dearborn, mentioned that for all his flaws, Trump represents a change from the Biden-Harris administration that has been staunchly supporting the Israeli assault on Gaza and Lebanon.
He burdened that the election will not be the tip of political engagement and mentioned the neighborhood will strain Trump to meet his promise to deliver peace to the area.
“This does not finish right here,” Alfarjalla instructed Al Jazeera.
“Now we have to work more durable to verify our points are heard: stopping the genocide in Gaza, stopping the invasion of southern Lebanon and permitting Palestine to have its personal state. We’re hopeful about that. “That’s our primary precedence for this neighborhood.”
He additionally mentioned Harris supporters’ “lesser of two evils” speech to the neighborhood backfired as a result of many citizens could not see a worse evil than the administration offering the bombs, killing their households and destroying their hometowns.
Whereas each main candidates help Israel, Harris’ marketing campaign made a collection of unforced errors that additional alienated the neighborhood in Michigan and past, Arab American advocates instructed Al Jazeera.
On the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago in August, Harris’ marketing campaign rejected calls for to permit a speech by a Palestinian speaker.
The Democratic candidate additionally rejected a gathering request from the Uncompromising Motion that was based through the Democratic Major course of to strain Biden on his unconditional help for Israel.
In contrast to Trump, Harris has not visited Dearborn, the de facto seat of Arab American political and monetary energy, throughout this marketing campaign.
As an alternative, Harris met with hand-picked Arab and Muslim “leaders” in Flint, about an hour north of Detroit, final month.
Moreover, Harris campaigned with Liz Cheney in Michigan and welcomed the endorsement of her father, former President Dick Cheney, architect of the so-called “Struggle on Terror” that devastated the Center East.
Quite a few Arab American activists invoked Harris’s help for the Cheneys by highlighting her obvious disdain for his or her communities.
“Harris was endorsed by neoconservatives like Liz Cheney and Dick Cheney, and he or she is overtly campaigning with them and speaking about how nice they’re,” Dearborn Councilman Mustapha Hammoud instructed Al Jazeera Tuesday evening when he They knew the outcomes.
“You recognize what? I do not suppose persons are keen to vote for George W. Bush, so I wasn’t going to see individuals vote for Harris both.”
‘I smile and chortle about it’
Talking below Harris’ marketing campaign signal final week, former President Invoice Clinton claimed that Hamas “forces” Israel to kill Palestinian civilians and prompt that Zionism predates Islam.
The marketing campaign’s habits led some advocates to query whether or not the Democratic candidate has given up on the Arab neighborhood.
“Vice President Harris has proven time and time once more that she does not really need our vote,” Uncommitted Motion chief Layla Elabed instructed Al Jazeera final week.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud additionally famous that Harris’ marketing campaign was hesitant to straight have interaction Arab Individuals.
“They do not need boos to occur. They do not wish to knock on doorways the place they suppose the talks will drag on and the votes may not be there,” the mayor instructed Al Jazeera earlier than the election.
On the political entrance, Harris has not made any concrete guarantees to the neighborhood, even throughout the acceptable realm of mainstream politics, resembling reopening the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. or resuming funding for the United Nations humanitarian company. Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
In contrast, Biden launched platforms for Arab and Muslim Individuals in 2020, promising home and overseas coverage measures sought by the neighborhood, a lot of which weren’t delivered.
Merely put, many Arab Individuals say they’ve already survived 4 years of Trump, whereas a lot of their family in Palestine and Lebanon didn’t survive the Biden-Harris presidency.
They are saying they may proceed to push for change, irrespective of who’s in energy.
When requested about some liberal social media customers attacking Arab Individuals and blaming them for Harris’ loss, Alfarjalla mentioned many individuals locally have survived struggle and adversity, so they do not thoughts. fear about what others say.
“I smile and chortle about it,” he mentioned.
