In Michigan, Harris engages in discussions with Arab and Muslim American community leaders, as tensions heighten concerning the Middle East's geopolitical escalation.
The gathering occurs as the Harris campaign attempts to garner support within the community, given the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict that has transformed into a multi-front battle involving Iran. This week, Iran launched missiles at Israel. Furthermore, Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and Yemen are also involved in this conflict.
Michigan, which Biden narrowly won in the 2020 election, will once again be a significant battleground this November and is home to a large Arab American population.
Emgage Action, an organization dedicated to boosting the Muslim American vote, endorsed Harris last month while expressing "strong disappointment" with the Biden administration's stance on Gaza. Emgage Action leaders are expected to participate in the meeting, according to sources.
CNN reached out to the Harris campaign for comment regarding the meeting.
On the other hand, leaders of the "Uncommitted" movement, which emerged during the Democratic primaries this year in opposition to the Biden administration's policy on the Gaza war, were not included in the guest list. In early August, Harris interacted with leaders of the group during a photo line at the Detroit airport.
The group has called upon the vice president to hold meetings with families affected by the war, following the campaign and national Democrats' rejection of their previous request for a Palestinian American to speak during the Democratic convention in Chicago this summer.
As of now, the Uncommitted movement has announced that they will not endorse Harris. However, they have warned against voting for Trump or third-party candidates in states where they may appear on the ballot.
Uncommitted movement co-founder Abbas Alawieh confirmed Friday that his group was not invited to the meeting with Harris. In a social media post, Alawieh expressed his gratitude for the pressure that is helping to foster more engagement. He urged the vice president to respect international humanitarian and U.S. law by ceasing the supply of weapons to Israel for war crimes.
James Zogby, a co-founder of the Arab American Institute and a Democratic National Committee member for over 30 years, turned down an invitation to Friday’s meeting with Harris. Zogby cited rising frustration with what he described as a campaign more concerned with optics than addressing the anger and anxiety among Arab American voters.
Zogby was part of a Wednesday call with Harris national security adviser Phil Gordon that the White House described as a virtual gathering with "Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian American community leaders" to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East.
“There was no ground broken. I wasn’t quite sure what the intent was other than to just say ... that they met with leaders. There were no leaders,” Zogby said of the Wednesday conversation.
This call and other communications with the Harris campaign, as well as Biden’s before that, have irritated the longtime Democratic pollster. Moreover, Israel's escalation in Lebanon has also intensified tension in states like Michigan, where Lebanese Americans have made up a crucial part of the Democratic coalition.
“With Lebanon in flames, they’ve got a bigger job. And I don’t think they’re ready to handle it,” Zogby said of the Harris campaign. “It’s sort of like trying to sell a car to somebody with terminal cancer. ‘What’re you talking for? I have bigger things on my mind right now.’”
Abed Ayoub, the national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, stated that there have been numerous meetings with both the campaign and administration. They are aware of their concerns and demands.
“Our position and work is focused on bringing an immediate ceasefire, and an end to the genocide in Palestine and the war on Lebanon,” said Ayoub. He also noted that his group has nearly 130,000 active voters as members, including 7,500 in Michigan.
This week, Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, took the campaign’s pitch to Emgage Action’s “Million Muslim Votes: A Way Forward” summit.
“I know the pain of this community is deep. Our hearts are broken. The concern of the vice president and Harris and I - it’s on our minds every day. The scale of death and destruction in Gaza is staggering and devastating. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians killed, families fleeing for safety, over and over again,” Walz said at the virtual event.
Harris has often been disrupted at campaign rallies by pro-Palestinian protesters. In such instances, the vice president, who has spoken about the devastation in Gaza, has emphasized that the administration is working toward a ceasefire deal.
Zogby stated Friday that he "desperately" wants Harris to win but is concerned about the campaign's attempts to stage-manage the issue.
“They have to say something about the issue that’s on people’s minds,” Zogby said, “and they just don’t seem able to bring themselves to talk about it.”
The Uncommitted movement, which criticizes the Biden administration's stance on Gaza, is not endorsing Harris due to their concerns about the campaign's approach to Middle Eastern politics. Earlier this week, Michigan, a significant battleground state with a large Arab American population, saw escalating tensions between Israel and its adversaries, potentially affecting voter sentiment.
