Tim Walz to Muslim voters in push before election: ‘Our hearts are broken’
During his speech, Kamala Harris’s running mate acknowledged a collective grief among Muslim and Arab American communities due to Israel’s war on Gaza, where more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October. “Our hearts are broken,” Walz said.
“The scale of death and destruction in Gaza is staggering and devastating. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians killed, families fleeing for safety over and over again. We all know on here, this war must end and it must end now. The vice-president’s working everyday to ensure that, to make sure Israel is secure, the hostages are home, the suffering in Gaza ends now. And the Palestinian people realize the right to dignity, freedom and self determination.”
“Here in Minnesota, I’ve got the privilege to represent an incredible and vibrant Muslim community,” Walz said as light streamed through a large window behind him. He shared that he and his wife, Gwen, held the first iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal during Ramadan, at the Minnesota governor’s residence in 2019. And last year, Walz also passed interest-free down payment assistance for first-generation homebuyers to increase homeownership among Muslim Americans.
The virtual event came shortly after Emgage Action endorsed Harris and Walz. It was not an easy decision for the organization to make, said Nada Al-Hanooti, Emgage Action’s national organizing deputy director, while adding that a third-party vote was tantamount to a vote for Donald Trump: “We don’t have time to punish the Democratic party.”
Emgage Action also endorsed Harris and Walz to help advance their anti-war objectives, said the group’s CEO, Wa’el Alzayat. “Our endorsement is a clear-eyed guidance to our voters on election day, when either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will be elected to become commander in chief,” said Alzayat. “This endorsement is not acquiescence to the status quo. On the contrary, we believe that the most effective way to advance our anti-war goals is to block Trump’s fascism and push for the change we want to see.” Continue reading…
