In the aftermath of Trump’s intense plea for Palestinians to vacate Gaza, leading to the consequent potential American settlement, an all too predictable pattern of reactions ensued. Mixed feelings swept across the Arab American community of Dearborn, and in other clusters throughout the country, a sense of disillusionment looming large. Many of these people had previously spent considerable amounts of their time, relentlessly alerting Democratic professionals, about the increasingly dire situation in their neighborhoods, coupled with a heartrending plea for a policy shift regarding the Gaza war.
One such voice in the chorus belonged to Mohyeddin Abdulaziz, a Palestinian-American lawyer and a lifelong Democratic organizer in the desert city of Arizona. He bore witness to a relentless barrage of brutal imagery of Israel’s persistent air attacks. The sight of helpless children devoid of limbs, the lifeless bodies of newborns and burial grounds filled to the brink was enough to break anyone’s heart. Abdulaziz’s despair was amplified by the harrowing knowledge that his tax money had partly funded the arsenal which reaped such devastation on his kin.
Given the circumstances, standing by the administration he once supported now seemed like an impossible task. Abdulaziz felt deserted by the very party he had faithfully supported throughout his life. He wasn’t alone in this disillusionment, with many of his companions sharing similar sentiments. Despite this, they maintained a flicker of hope, ready to throw their weight behind Kamala Harris, only if she dared to step away from Biden’s controversial policies. Alas, that day never arrived.
The shock was profound upon first learning of Trump’s controversial plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza, transforming it into a proverbial ‘Riviera of the Middle East’. Despite the bitter disappointment that Harris never distanced herself from Biden, Abdulaziz didn’t hold out much hope for significant change, even if a Harris victory had eventuated. Abdulaziz argued that those blaming him and others like him are merely manifesting the Democratic Party’s ongoing reluctance to truly comprehend its voter base.
His frustration was echoed in Pennsylvania, a key swing state that ultimately conceded to Trump. Reem Abuelhaj, a Palestinian-American activist, was deeply engrossed in propping up political movement, ‘No Ceasefire, No Vote’, during the election season. Contrary to what some might imply, their objective wasn’t to hand over the election to Trump. Instead, the quest was to harness political sway within a pivotal state to prevent further loss of life. Nevertheless, the voters of this movement were left feeling unheard.
Zogby, a stalwart in Democratic leadership, remains on duty, appealing to insiders not to hastily pin blame on Arab American voters. He preached an understanding for the pain the last eighteen months had inflicted upon them. Despite his soothing efforts, Zogby himself found it rather challenging to initiate these discussions within his community, suggesting a wider malaise among constituents.
Layla Elabed, co-founder of ‘Listen to Michigan’, and a noteworthy player in the uncommitted movement, observed parallels in the current sociopolitical climate. She says, ‘The few people I interacted with who chose to vote for a third party or who refused to support any party at all, weren’t at all elated by their decision.’
Elabed argues that the Democrats still have a significant task ahead of them if they are to truly represent communities like hers. Interestingly, she notes that not everyone from these demographic pockets is looking back in regret, even considering the tumultuous past few weeks.