Biden officials meet with Arab American, Muslim communities in Michigan

Washington
CNN
—

Biden administration officials are scheduled to meet with Arab American and Muslim community members in Michigan on Thursday, four sources familiar with the plan told CNN.

The officials represent some of Biden’s most trusted advisers and policymakers. The list of attendees, first shared with CNN, includes U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser John Finner, Director of Public Engagement Steve Benjamin, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez, It includes the White House’s liaison to the American Muslim community. Mazen Basrawi and his close aides Jamie Citron and Dan Coe.

The meeting comes as Biden grapples with growing dissatisfaction within his own party over his handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Michigan has the nation’s largest concentration of Arab-American and Muslim populations, and Democrats say it’s critical to victory in 2020 and a battleground state expected to be close again in November. , there are concerns that alienating this key group could be damaging to the president. .

Mr. Power is one of several senior U.S. officials who have been publicly at odds over the administration’s position on Gaza.

In a street speech last week, one of the questioners, who identified himself as a USAID contractor, claimed that the “U.S.-funded genocide in Gaza” had made the United States incapable of “being a moral leader.” I approached Mr. Another interrupted her speech to increase the humanitarian toll of the war.

Many families are “living in unimaginable conditions,” Power said, pointing to U.S. efforts to expand the flow of resources to Gaza.

“Furthermore, of course, the war itself and the bombing caused the greatest loss of life, with over 25,000 civilians killed. “There’s nothing that doesn’t put materiality at the forefront of the conversation,” she said.

A group of officials will meet with local leaders to discuss the conflict and other important issues for the community, White House officials said. The move is part of ongoing communication and support efforts with Arab American leaders. Country.

Muslim-American votes could be important in the battleground state of Michigan. At least 146,620 of Michigan’s 200,000 Muslim-American voters voted in the 2020 election cycle, according to an analysis by Emgage, an organization dedicated to encouraging Muslim-American voting.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters last week that senior administration officials will be traveling to Michigan in February to hear directly from community leaders about the Israeli conflict and a variety of issues important to their families. I am planning to visit.” Gaza. ”

The meeting came just weeks after Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez traveled to Michigan to meet with local community leaders, including members of the Arab American and Muslim communities. . This included meetings with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American female congresswoman who has criticized Biden’s handling of the war, and Osama Shiblani, founder and publisher of Arab American News. It was included.

But one sit-in, which was expected to draw about a dozen Arab-American, Muslim and Palestinian leaders and activists, was canceled at the last minute after invitees refused to attend. At the time, some invitees expressed frustration that the Biden team sent campaign staff rather than White House staff to meet with the community.

More than 30 Michigan officials on Wednesday vowed to vote “irresponsibly” in the state’s Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 27, as part of a new “Michigan Voices Hear” campaign.

“Our government has failed to act in the best interests of the lives of innocent men, women and children, and worse, has suggested that there is an exception to the rule when it comes to Palestinian lives,” Dia said. said Abdullah Hammoud, Mayor of Bourne. , the person who signed the pledge. “This issue directly impacts our Dearborn community and, more importantly, each of us as human beings. We intend to make our voices heard in the presidential primary. ”

According to a recent CNN poll, 34% of Americans approve of Biden’s response to the war between Israel and Hamas. About half of Democrats (51%) say they approve of his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Among Democrats under 45, that percentage drops to just 35%.

The talks also come at a critical time in the war, with Hamas agreeing to hostage negotiations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the region this week for a series of important meetings.

This article has been updated with additional reporting.