Detroit Evening Report: Arab American leaders refuse to meet with Biden campaign during Michigan visit

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Imam Omar Suleiman speaks at the Islamic Center of Detroit in Detroit, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. President Joe Biden's campaign manager has traveled to Michigan, where many Arab American leaders are enraged over the administration's policy toward Israel, and found some top activists unwilling to meet.

Imam Omar Suleiman speaks at the Islamic Center of Detroit in Detroit, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. President Joe Biden's campaign manager has traveled to Michigan, where many Arab American leaders are enraged over the administration's policy toward Israel, and found some top activists unwilling to meet.

President Joe Biden’s campaign manager traveled to Michigan on Friday and found some top Arab American activists unwilling to meet with her.


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The backlash to Julie Chavez Rodriguez’s visit exposes a growing rift between the White House and groups otherwise loyal to Democratic causes amid growing tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Rodriguez spoke throughout the day with some Arab American community leaders, but ended her trip after a late afternoon meeting with Arab American leaders was canceled when everyone invited — between 10 and 15 people — declined to show up.

Other activists went beyond simply not showing up for Rodriguez, as leaders from “Abandon Biden,” a movement discouraging voters from supporting the president in November, spoke to hundreds of people at a local mosque in anticipation of the campaign manager’s visit.

Assad I. Turfe, a deputy Wayne County executive, said he was tasked with coordinating the original meeting, but that it was abandoned due to lack of interest.

Turfe said he reached out to more than 10 Arab American and Muslim leaders after being contacted by the Biden campaign on Wednesday. The leaders then spoke with community members, Turfe said, who made it clear they did not want them meeting Rodriguez because of Biden’s full-throated support for Israel in its war with Hamas.

“I don’t believe that the Biden administration, at the senior top level, understands how big of a problem this is and how upset and angry the community is,” Turfe said.

The developments highlight the acute challenges the president’s campaign faces as it tries to sure up support among Arab Americans, whose votes will be key in Michigan during November’s election.

Story by Joey Cappelleti and Will Weissert, Associated Press. WDET’s Pat Batcheller contributed to this report.

Other headlines for Monday, Jan. 29, 2024:

  • The winners of the 27th annual Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latinx string musicians have been announced.
  • Wayne County residents can learn about their flood risk and flood insurance at FEMA’s Flood Map Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Wayne County Community College’s Curtis L. Ivery Downtown Campus, Frank Hayden Community Room, 1001 W. Fort St., Detroit.
  • The city of Detroit is continuing a Digital Equity Tour this week to help residents take advantage of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program before it ends Feb. 7. 
  • Wednesday is the last day neighborhoods in the shadow of the Gordie Howe International Bridge can apply for community investment grants. 

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Author

  • Sascha Raiyn
    Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio.