WASHINGTON, USA: On Wednesday, Emgage Action, a prominent U.S. Muslim advocacy group, endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential election, citing concerns over former President Donald Trump’s pledge to reinstate a travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries.
The group, which supported President Joe Biden in 2020, mobilized 1 million Muslim voters in that election and now views Trump’s potential policies as a direct threat to the community.
In 2021, President Biden reversed the “travel ban” implemented by Trump, which restricted entry into the U.S. from several predominantly Muslim nations. Trump, however, has pledged to reinstate the policy if he wins in 2024. Harris, serving as vice president under Biden, has already garnered the support of several smaller Muslim groups, including the Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund and the American Muslim Democratic Caucus.
This endorsement comes against the backdrop of the Israel-Gaza war, where the Biden administration has faced pressure to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The U.S. has continued its military support for Israel while calling for diplomacy to ease the crisis. As the 2024 election nears, the Muslim community’s concerns over foreign and domestic policies will likely play a pivotal role in shaping its political choices.
Since then, Israel’s military has leveled swaths of Gaza, driving nearly all of its 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing more than 41,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.
