By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The vice presidential candidate of Democratic Party, Tim Walz on Thursday promised that under the presidency of the party’s presidential flagbearer Kamala Harris, American Muslims will enjoy an equal role, a promise that comes as the party in power struggles to regain the support of Muslims that has eroded, over the support of Washington for Israel.
Harris, the Vice President of US and Walz, the governor of Minnesota, are in fierce battle to woo the support of Muslim voters, who have not hidden their displeasure over the decision of President Joe Biden’s administration to support Israel in war against Hamas in Gaza.
Harris had pledged continued support for Israel while emphasizing her push for a ceasefire, a position Walz echoed on Thursday, while promising a role for Muslims.
“Vice President Harris and I are committed that this White House… will continue to condemn in all forms anti-Islam, anti-Arab sentiments being led by Donald Trump, but more importantly, a commitment that Muslims will be engaged in this administration and serve side by side,” Walz said during an online meeting organized by Emgage Action, a Muslim American advocacy group that recently endorsed Harris.
The Nov. 5 election between Harris and Republican candidate, Donald Trump is expected to be tight, especially in battleground states like Michigan, home to a large Muslim American population.
The U.S. continues to back Israel as it targets Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Though Emgage has endorsed Harris, other Muslim groups have urged supporters not to back her in the election, especially after Democrats rejected requests for a Palestinian speaker at the party convention in August.
Harris has offered no substantive policy differences on Israel from Biden, who stepped aside as presidential candidate in July.
Trump on the other hand has said he would reinstate a “travel ban” he imposed as president restricting the entry into the United States of people from a list of largely Muslim-dominant countries. Biden rolled back the ban shortly after taking office in 2021.
“The scale of death and destruction in Gaza is staggering and devastating,” Walz said.
Harris is working to ensure “the suffering in Gaza ends now, and the Palestinian people realize the right to dignity, freedom and self determination,” he added.
According to Palestinian health authorities, the Israeli military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians. Israel was responding to an incursion by Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7, 2023, which Israel says killed around 1,200 people and abducted about 250 hostages.
Heritage Times HT reports that Islam ranks as the third-largest religion in the United States, after Christianity and Judaism.
According to the latest studies, there are about 4.45 million Muslims in the country, accounting for approximately 1% of the total population.
