Black Muslim Leaders Urge Voters to Abandon Kamala Harris Over Gaza War, Endorse Third-Party Candidates in 2024

A coalition of Black Muslim leaders has called on American voters to reject Vice President Kamala Harris's bid for the 2024 presidency due to her administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza. The group, consisting of approximately 50 leaders, issued a statement urging voters to back candidates who endorse a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel.

This move reflects growing frustration within parts of the Muslim community, particularly around Harris's inability to commit to policy changes that would hold Israel accountable for what many view as genocide against Palestinians. 

Pro- Palestinians demonstrators rally against Democrats

"As Muslims obliged to uphold justice and as Black Americans whose ancestors experienced the worst of crimes, genocide must be our red line," the statement declared, unequivocally drawing a parallel between the historical struggles of Black Americans and the ongoing Palestinian plight. The group’s position is clear; they "simply cannot support a candidate who participated in a genocide and now refuses to lay out any plan to end that genocide."

The call to abandon Harris isn’t an isolated occurrence. In recent months, various Muslim organizations, including a coalition of US imams, have been urging voters to consider third-party candidates who oppose US military aid to Israel.

A letter signed by dozens of imams endorsing this stance further emphasized the community's growing dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration's policies. This letter, signed by over 130 faith leaders, urged Muslims to vote for a third-party candidate, specifically as a protest against the Democratic Party’s continued support for the Israeli military offensive.

Jill Stein 

One candidate who has gained notable attention is Green Party presidential hopeful Jill Stein, whose platform includes a ceasefire and an arms embargo on Israel. The Abandon Harris movement, a Muslim-led initiative aimed at holding Democrats accountable for their Gaza stance, has officially endorsed Stein.

"We call on Muslim voters to support only a pro-ceasefire and pro-arms embargo presidential candidate, as well as candidates down the ballot who support other just policies, including economic justice, religious freedom, healthcare for all, humane immigration policy, reforming the criminal justice system, and racial equality," the Black Muslim leaders’ statement read.

Demonstrators rally on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention

Polling reflects the shifting tides. According to a source, Harris has only garnered 32% of Black Muslim support. This is a stark contrast to the past two decades, where a significant majority of the faith community—69% in 2020—voted for the Democratic presidential candidate. However, more recent polls show that over 50% of Muslims are now leaning toward voting for neither Harris nor former President Donald Trump, with Stein matching Harris’s support within the community.  

Imam Dawud Walid

Imam Dawud Walid, a faith leader from Michigan and a signatory of the statement, spoke to the deep divisions these developments are causing within the Muslim-American electorate. 

"There’s a false narrative that the majority of Black Muslims support Kamala Harris,” Imam said, adding that this misconception is “sowing racial division amongst American Muslims during a genocide of our brothers and sisters in Gaza." His comments underscore the frustration that has led to this split, with some media reports erroneously suggesting that Black Muslims overwhelmingly back Harris. The historical solidarity between Black and Palestinian communities has also been a recurring theme in this discourse. Black leaders have long supported Palestinian rights, and many see the Palestinian struggle for self-determination as mirroring their fight against systemic oppression. 

Ismahan Abdullahi

"Black communities have fought tirelessly against slavery, against segregation, against racial violence, so it recognizes the Palestinian struggle as the same fight for freedom, for dignity, and the right to self-determination," said Ismahan Abdullahi, a Muslim leader from San Diego and a signatory of the statement. 

Despite media reports suggesting that Harris has shown more sympathy to Palestinians than President Joe Biden, her advisors have been quick to clarify that this should not be interpreted as a break from US foreign policy. The administration has, throughout the conflict, provided diplomatic cover and military aid to Israel, a position that has alienated a growing portion of the Muslim-American electorate. 

The impact of this shift could be profound, especially in swing states like Michigan, where Muslim and Arab-American voters are expected to play a decisive role in the upcoming election. Abdullahi noted, "We are rooted in our shared experience of resilience and resistance and hope for a better world." 

This growing discontent with the Democratic Party has even sparked discussions of a generational shift in Muslim voting patterns. Imam Walid reflected on the trajectory of Muslim-American voters, pointing out that before the 9/11 attacks, many Muslims had supported George W. Bush. 

However, after the Iraq war and the policies that followed, much of the Muslim community shifted toward the Democrats. Now, Walid believes the Biden-Harris administration’s stance on Gaza could lead to another major realignment, stating, "The Biden-Harris administration's active support of genocide will cause a significant percentage of American Muslims to abandon the Democratic Party for a generation." 

As the November election draws near, the ramifications of these shifting alliances remain to be seen. With Harris and Trump running neck and neck, the votes of disillusioned Americans-Muslims, particularly in key swing states, could be pivotal. For the Harris administration, it appears that the unwavering support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza may have pushed a crucial segment of the electorate to seek alternatives.