Arab-American Community Mobilizes in Michigan Against Biden’s Israel Policy

Arab- and Muslim-Americans and some 60 percent of all Americans have wanted for months for US President Joe Biden to pressure Israel into accepting an immediate ceasefire in the war on Gaza. The White House has all but ignored them. So Arab- and Muslim-Americans decided to flex their political muscle by using their electoral power in critical swing states in this year’s presidential election.

In December, community leaders from Michigan met in Dearborn, under the slogan “Abandon Biden, ceasefire now”. They vowed not to vote for Biden in the November presidential polls unless he changes his policies that enable Israel’s genocidal attacks on Gaza, rob Palestinians of decent life conditions, and largely ignore the views of significant minority communities in the United States.

The campaign quickly attracted support in Michigan and other states with large Arab-American communities, along with criticism from Biden supporters who feared that the campaign to pressure the president might inadvertently guarantee a Donald Trump victory.

Arab- and Muslim-Americans intensified their campaign in February when demeaning articles in the mainstream press helped mobilise even more community members. On February 2, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published an op-ed by Steven Stalinsky, titled Welcome to Dearborn, America’s Jihad Capital. On the same day, a New York Times op-ed by Thomas Friedman metaphorically compared Middle Eastern countries and political actors to animals in the jungle, including trap-door spiders and wasps.

The Michigan community reached out to mobilise nationally with other marginalised communities that the White House has often ignored – notably African-Americans, Hispanics, progressive Jews, labourers, women, university students, and others. They joined hands because they share concerns about foreign policy as well as the White House’s domestic priorities and its opportunistic and self-serving citizen engagement.

Arab- and Muslim-Americans have received mostly words from Biden and top White House officials, with no meaningful actions taken to address their concerns about the Israeli attacks on Gaza. In response, they have launched the “Listen to Michigan” campaign, urging voters to list themselves as “uncommitted” in the upcoming primary elections as a signal to Biden that he must listen to their demands or risk electoral consequences.

The Arab-American community in Michigan has significant leverage in swing states like Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia, where their votes can make a difference in closely contested elections. Their activism has gained the support of various groups, including the United Autoworkers Union, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and progressive organizations like Our Revolution led by US Senator Bernie Sanders.

This grassroots movement represents a paradigm shift in how minority communities engage with politics and foreign policy, demanding concrete actions over mere rhetoric from those in power. Tuesday’s Michigan primary will serve as a litmus test for the impact of this mobilization on the upcoming elections and US foreign policy decisions.