Kamala Harris Arab American voters/ Harris Middle East policy/ Flint Michigan Harris meeting/ Arab American discontent 2024 election/ Arab American vote Michigan/ Arab American discontent/ Harris Middle East policy/ Gaza conflict/ Harris meets Muslim leaders/ Newslooks/ FLINT/ MICHIGAN/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President Kamala Harris met with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Flint, Michigan, on Friday in an effort to address concerns over U.S. support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. The meeting comes as Harris seeks to secure Arab American votes, which were crucial in 2020 but could slip away in the tight 2024 presidential race. Attendees expressed disappointment in U.S. policy and urged Harris to push for an end to the violence. While Harris acknowledged the suffering in the region, some Arab Americans remain frustrated with the administration’s stance.
Harris Faces Backlash from Arab American Leaders Over Israel Policy in Michigan Quick Looks
- Meeting with leaders: Vice President Kamala Harris met with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Flint, Michigan, to discuss U.S. support for Israel in Gaza and Lebanon.
- Community frustrations: Leaders voiced their deep disappointment over the U.S.’s handling of the conflict and urged Harris to push for a ceasefire.
- Election risks: Some Arab American voters, crucial to winning Michigan, are considering withholding their votes due to Harris’ alignment with Biden’s Middle East policies.
- Union support: Earlier in the day, Harris celebrated a union deal ending a major port strike, signaling continued support for organized labor.
In Michigan, Harris Met Arab American Leaders Angry Over U.S. Support for Israel
Deep Look
Vice President Kamala Harris met with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Flint, Michigan, on Friday as her campaign faced mounting frustrations over U.S. support for Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. The meeting was part of a broader effort to reconnect with voters who overwhelmingly supported Joe Biden in 2020 but are now reconsidering their support for Harris in the tight 2024 presidential race.
Arab American and Muslim voters have been vocal about their discontent, feeling alienated by the administration’s backing of Israel in its ongoing military efforts, especially as civilian casualties mount in Gaza and thousands are displaced in Lebanon.
Discontent Among Arab American Voters
During the 30-minute meeting, Harris expressed concern over the humanitarian crises unfolding in the Middle East, particularly the scale of suffering in Gaza and Lebanon. A campaign official said Harris discussed efforts to bring an end to the conflict and prevent a broader regional war. Despite her words, many of the leaders in attendance pushed for more decisive action.
Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, a Muslim advocacy group that has endorsed Harris, said that while there was dialogue, the message from the community was clear. “We called on her to do everything in her power to stop the violence and push for a reset of U.S. policy in the region,” Alzayat said. He emphasized that they asked Harris to convey the urgency of a ceasefire to President Biden. “She agrees this war needs to end.”
Ed Gabriel, president of the American Task Force on Lebanon, highlighted the importance of addressing the humanitarian crisis and the leadership void in Lebanon. “It was a valuable exchange,” Gabriel said. “We’ll see what happens, but it was good to see compassion on her side.”
However, not everyone in the community feels that their voices are being heard. Jim Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute, declined the invitation to meet with Harris, while leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement claimed they were excluded from the event.
This growing disillusionment within Arab American communities is critical in Michigan, a state where Arab American voters were pivotal in Biden’s 2020 victory. Now, some are reconsidering their vote. Ali Dagher, a Lebanese American attorney, said many in his community no longer support Harris. “Harris is going to lose Michigan,” Dagher said, adding, “I don’t know a single person in the community who will vote for her.”
Harris’ Efforts to Secure Key Endorsements
Harris’s efforts to win back Arab American voters in Michigan come amid other challenges on the campaign trail. Earlier in the day, she visited Redford Township, near Detroit, to celebrate the successful resolution of a major port strike. However, her appearance coincided with the International Association of Firefighters declining to endorse any candidate, a potential sign of shifting union loyalties.
At a separate event later in Flint, Harris appeared alongside United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain. Speaking to a crowd of labor supporters, she reassured them that her administration would continue to invest in Michigan’s auto industry. She used the opportunity to criticize Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, for suggesting that federal support for the Grand River Assembly Plant in Lansing could be withdrawn under a future Trump administration.
The Road Ahead
Despite these outreach efforts, Harris faces a difficult path forward in winning back the support of disillusioned Arab American voters. Many critics argue that she has been too closely aligned with President Biden’s Middle East policies, which they say have allowed Israel to escalate military action in Gaza unchecked.
“The community is disappointed,” Dagher said, warning that Harris’s refusal to distance herself from Biden on this issue could cost her crucial votes. The latest polls show Arab Americans in Michigan are split between Harris and Trump, a precarious position for the vice president in a state she must win to secure the presidency.
In addition to her meeting with Arab American leaders, Harris’s team has been working behind the scenes to build bridges with the broader Muslim community. Her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, held a Zoom call with Muslim voters on Thursday, assuring them that they would have an equal role in a Harris administration. Similarly, Phil Gordon, Harris’s national security adviser, met virtually with leaders from Arab and Muslim communities earlier in the week, reiterating the administration’s support for diplomacy in Lebanon and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Still, some believe it may not be enough. “Harris must show that she can stand apart from Biden when it comes to foreign policy,” said one community leader, “or risk losing the Arab American vote entirely.”
