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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Tom Perkins in Detroit and Erum Salam

‘How can I vote for Biden?’ Arab Americans in Michigan ‘betrayed’ by Israel support

Joe Biden Israel Donald Trump Michigan America Clinton Amer Zahr United States Abraham Aiyash Bernie Sanders
pro palestinian demonstrators, woman with palestinian flag on her face in the foreground
A demonstration in Dearborn, a majority Arab American city outside Detroit. Photograph: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

Leading up to the 2020 election, Arab American organizers in south-east Michigan like Terry Ahwal worked to convince their community to go to the polls for Joe Biden. The message was simple: Donald Trump’s Islamophobic rhetoric and policies such as the Middle East travel ban were a threat to Arab Americans. Voters mobilized to help push Biden over the top in this critical swing state.

Several years on, amid Biden’s full-throated support of Israel in the current war and an unfolding humanitarian crisis that has claimed thousand of lives in Gaza, Ahwal feels deep regret: “I have to say “I’m sorry’ to my friends.’”

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