This is a striking moment but it isn’t the damning moment for Muslims & Arabs as many may think it is - it is the sign of the demise of the Democratic Party, even in its ability to maintain optics.
And optics are at the core of politics.
Kamala Harris, Joe Biden & the Democratic Party have refused to even share a stage with Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians - not even for the sake of optics or for the sake of their electoral interests.
Instead, Harris & her party have chosen to castigate & marginalize Arabs & Muslims - who overwhelmingly vote Democrat - at every single turn.
Trump did the easiest thing the Democrats & Harris couldn’t: he welcomed some Arabs & Muslims to share the stage with him. He embraced them. The Democrats, Biden & Harris have categorically refused to.
Muslims and Arabs have endorsed Jill Stein / third party candidates (@Abandonbiden24, over 150 imams/clerics in a letter); Muslims/Arabs have endorsed / supported Harris (Zogby, Emgage, Mehdi Hasan, Uncommitted-ish). Black Muslims have been on both sides of this.
The narrative has been & will continue to be that Arabs & Muslims are supporting Trump - this isn’t true. Our communities are pushing against the genocide of our people.
Some in our communities are choosing to side with the current genocidaires, some are choosing to side with the future genocidaires. These men with Trump are a handful of Muslim/Arab leaders out of millions of Muslims in this country. Our communities aren’t monolithic.
It’s sad there are Muslims willing to stand on stage with Trump knowing the shit he’s done and said.
But it’s equally sad that Kamala Harris can’t do the same thing.
Trump is a simple beast, there’s the smallest chance that with enough money and strategy Muslims can redirect his hate towards a more profitable victim.
The Biden Harris duo have proven there is nothing Muslims can do to change their minds about targeting Muslims and arabs.
It’s simple, pragmatic, support.