Rashida Tlaib urges Michigan Democrats to vote ‘uncommitted’ during primary in protest against Biden
Michigan will host its 2024 presidential primary election on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
FILE - Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., speaks during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Oct. 18, 2023, near the Capitol in Washington.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is urging Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in Michigan’s presidential primary election on Feb. 27.
The move is seen as a way to protest against President Joe Biden’s continued support of Israel’s attacks in Gaza, which has drawn widespread condemnation from Michigan’s Arab American and Muslim communities.
Tlaib says their voices are not being heard.
“Right now we feel completely neglected and just unseen by our government,” Tlaib said in a video posted over the weekend. “If you want us to be louder then come here and vote uncommitted.”
Early in-person voting in Michigan started last Saturday.
Read: How the war in Gaza is swaying voters in Michigan
Since the Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7, Israel’s retaliatory attacks in Gaza have displaced 80% of the Palestinian population and killed over 28,000 people.
“Something that is a bullhorn to say ‘enough is enough,’” Tlaib said. “We don’t want a country that supports wars and bombs and destruction. We want to support life. We want to stand up for every single life killed in Gaza.”
Michigan is expected to be a battleground state during the presidential election — a state that Biden won by just three percentage points in 2020.
Former President Donald Trump is hoping to capitalize on the anger of Arab Americans to get their vote. According to the Detroit Free Press, Trump met with some Republican Muslims when he was in Southeast Michigan last Saturday.
The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill that would include $14.1 billion in additional military aid to Israel, though Speaker Mike Johnson stated he would not put the bill on the House floor.
Polling has shown that about two-thirds of Americans want a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza has killed over 28,000 Palestinians and destroyed most of the residential housing.
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