The escalating war in the Middle East has caused tension within Michigan’s Arab American community, especially towards Democrats, just before the upcoming presidential election. A rally in Dearborn, Michigan, organized to protest the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah, highlighted the community’s anger towards Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden for supporting U.S. arms shipments to Israel. Many speakers at the rally blamed the administration for civilian casualties resulting from the conflict.
Dearborn’s Democratic Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, a key figure in the Arab American community, expressed his disapproval of the administration’s actions. While he met with Harris in August, Hammoud made it clear that he has not endorsed any candidate for the upcoming election. The Harris campaign emphasized its efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding in the region, but Arab American leaders remain skeptical of her stance.
Former President Donald Trump is actively trying to court dissatisfied Arab American voters, receiving endorsements from some prominent figures in the community. The community has ties to the Middle East, with many Lebanese Americans in Michigan closely following the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The recent escalation in violence has heightened emotions within the community, leading to increased calls for political action.
The rally in Dearborn brought together Arab American leaders and community members to voice their opposition to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Many attendees expressed their grief over the loss of family members in Lebanon and called for a cessation of weapons shipments to Israel. Michigan’s Arab American population is a crucial demographic in the upcoming election, and their support could sway the outcome in a state where over 100,000 people voted “Uncommitted” in the Democratic primary earlier this year.
While Harris initially gained support from some members of the Arab American community, recent events have caused skepticism among community leaders. The endorsement from Emgage Action, a Muslim American voter mobilization group, did not sway all members of the community. Many feel conflicted about voting for Harris, comparing it to the shame they felt voting for Trump in 2016. The community’s concerns about the conflict in the Middle East and their dissatisfaction with the administration’s response could impact their voting decisions in the upcoming election.
The situation in the Middle East continues to escalate, with Israel expanding its air campaign against Hezbollah and ongoing exchanges of fire between the two sides. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and heightened tensions among Arab Americans in Michigan. As the community grapples with the impact of the war on their families and homeland, their political allegiances are being tested, potentially influencing the outcome of the presidential election. Voters like Mustapha Hammoud, a Democrat who has felt disillusioned with the party’s response to the conflict, reflect the broader concerns within Michigan’s Arab American community.
