About 100 people gathered at the University of Michigan on Tuesday to urge Democrats to reject President Biden in the state's primary. The political rally highlighted both the passion and limits of efforts to pressure President Biden to call on Israel to end the war. In Gaza.
The rally was organized by Listen to Michigan, a group that is urging voters to vote “uncommitted” against Biden in next week's primaries, calling on Democrats to reject the president. .
The Ann Arbor speakers and the crowd, mostly made up of students, showed energy and declared they were outraged by Biden's stance on Israel, but once the event began, attendance was very small and everyone sat in a circle. He could stand up for himself, and he did. Hold each other's hands.
Former Michigan Rep. Andy Levin, a progressive Democrat who attended the rally, said Donald J. Trump, who is likely to be the Republican candidate in the general election because of Biden's policies toward Israel and Gaza He said Biden was responsible for losing to the former president. . Levin nods to Michigan's large Arab-American population, whose dissatisfaction with Biden, along with dissatisfaction with young voters and progressives, is a key battleground in the presidential race. This raises questions about the president's standing in Michigan.
“Don't blame us,” Levin said. He became one of the most prominent supporters of the uncommitment movement, along with Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib. “He needs votes from Arab Americans, people of color, progressive Jews, and young people. In 2020 he won Michigan by just 150,000 votes, so politically We are in a moment where we can make our voices heard.”
Leila Elabd, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan and Tlaib's sister, said the campaign's goal is to get “at least 20,000 votes” for Uncommit.
“These are the numbers we need to have political power,” she said.
“We will make our voices heard at the voting booth,” said Abbas Allawi, a former parliamentary aide and one of the group's organizers. “Vote irresponsible, because a vote for irresponsibility is a vote for ceasefire. A vote for uncommitment is a vote against war.”
Uncommitment is backed by 39 state and local elected officials in Michigan, according to a count by The Detroit News. Mr. Tlaib broke away from Mr. Biden over the weekend, becoming the first member of the Michigan Democratic caucus to call for a noncommittal vote.
The Biden campaign began sending surrogates to the state this week to encourage primary voters to support the president. Biden campaign co-chair and former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu said on the first day of a campaign event Monday in Flint, Michigan, that he does not expect the Gaza conflict to end “any time soon.”
“Michiganders need to clearly see the difference between Biden and Trump,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chairman LaVora Burns. “Our job is to make sure people remember that when they have a choice between the two in November, the only way to vote is for Joe Biden.”
This could be a tough sell for activists and officials involved in pushing for “uncommitment” unless Biden orchestrates significant changes to U.S. policy on the Gaza war.
Speaking at Tuesday's rally, Ann Arbor School Board member Rima Mohammad asked Biden why people who are “horrified” by the death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza would support him for president. He said he couldn't imagine what he could expect. election.
“President Biden has abandoned this community,” Mohammad said. “As violence continues in Gaza, people feel increasingly betrayed.”
