Democracy Now! | Michigan Arab & Muslim Leaders Press White House for Ceasefire in Gaza

Democracy Now!

February 9 | 2024

Senior Biden administration officials traveled to Michigan on Thursday to meet with Arab American and Muslim leaders amid growing opposition to Biden's candidacy over his support for Israel's assault on Gaza.

Michigan is an important election battleground state and home to the largest percentage of Arab Americans in the United States.

Michigan House Majority Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash, the state's highest-ranking Arab and Muslim leader, joined the meeting to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, restrictions on military aid to Israel, and recommitting humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

"Now the question is: Are they going to heed the call of their constituents and do something that a majority of Americans and Democrats support in demanding for a ceasefire and an end to the violence?" demands

Aiyash, who has signed on to the "Listen to Michigan" campaign and pledged to vote "uncommitted" in the state's primary on February 27.

"We're focused on ending a war and stopping the military funding that supports genocide," says Layla Elabed, Palestinian American community organizer who is spearheading the "Listen to Michigan" campaign. "Until that happens, we cannot trust Biden and we cannot commit our votes to him."

Support our work: https://democracynow.org/give (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTdLZEpDWjJiRVRJLWRMbC1OdnJCNDMxcXdHQXxBQ3Jtc0tra3Bjc3ZpZlFHRk5zRWpQUVQ2TVZ2T0ZHb1Y1M0IxengwN3V6UkNOZXN5V1I4TUd2bkxzR3RXeXhCeTJjc0F2ZGdKZTJsZkpUbVZuR1JIYXNGU2dLYU9HVldWOVNxYWZkLWJUYXlCb1BPMUlCX05kRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdemocracynow.org%2Fgive&v=glmCVypEdDQ)

Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.

Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest:
https://democracynow.org/subscribe (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbG1zaTFzOThvV21rb2I2VXMwRVF6MTl0a0dQd3xBQ3Jtc0trRC1mV0lma3VSUWE2OVNLdzVhZWI2WUdaeFB5MGZfV3NadGJlMXZ0MUlweFpXUmJsZzNsTzFfWlVndS1tdkpJQm4yaXRFOXU2aS13R29xczdmcmZPYThPT1ZaQ0E3bGNyRk1qVGUwUi13SXY4bDlyZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdemocracynow.org%2Fsubscribe&v=glmCVypEdDQ)