Arab and Muslim Americans face a moral and political dilemma regarding the fast-approaching US presidential elections set for 5 November.
For many, voting for the democratic candidate Kamala Harris will mean trampling on their consciences, due to her current role as vice president for Joe Biden, who’s made the US a full-blown partner in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.
The Democratic Party’s alignment with Israel and disregard for Palestinians was on display at the party conference in Chicago last month, where no Palestinian American was allowed to speak about the suffering in Gaza – while an Israeli hostage’s family member was readily given a platform.
Harris’s speech at the conference was also disappointing, with the presidential hopeful reaffirming her staunch support for Israel, while adding some hollow words of sympathy for civilian victims in Gaza.
Nevertheless, many fear that not voting for her, or voting for a third candidate, like the Green Party’s Jill Stein or independent Cornel West, will in effect be a vote for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. He will likely benefit from every vote the Democrats lose, and even if he doesn’t win this time, such an increase could change the course of the subsequent elections in his favour. ….more
