Loading ...Justin Amash: Championing Arab American Interests in US Senate Race
On August 6, Arab Americans in Michigan will have the opportunity to vote for a Palestinian-Syrian American, Justin Amash, in the primary election for the US Senate — sending a powerful message about the importance of the Arab American vote and its ability to influence the US political landscape. There is no better way for the Arab American community to express its frustration with the bipartisan Washington establishment’s handling of the ongoing crisis in Palestine than voting for Amash on August 6.
Amash was born in Grand Rapids in 1980 and served as the first Palestinian American in Congress from 2011 to 2021. He is conscientious, thoughtful, and honest. Amash’s father is a Palestinian refugee who came to the United States in 1956, and his mother immigrated from Syria in 1974. Amash has been a vocal critic of the United States’ support for Israel’s campaign in Gaza. After several of his family members were killed in an Israeli air strike while sheltering in an Orthodox Church in Gaza, Amash drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in October 2023, stating “Please remember the thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians, in unbearable circumstances, who simply want a life of peace.”
As evidenced by former President Trump’s recent high-profile visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan and its open US Senate seat are critical to the outcome of the November elections –especially in light of Amash’s primary opponents, who have consistently taken positions adverse to Arab and Muslim interests. Amash’s policies and voting record speak for themselves, including his opposition to US funding for Israel while he served in Congress.
The following statement from Amash’s Facebook account captures the stark contrast between the candidates:
- Michigan’s Arab American and Muslim communities have been especially harmed by the forever war/surveillance state/anti-civil liberties policies of Mike Rogers and Elissa Slotkin.
- I served with each of them in Congress. Our approach to some of the biggest issues affecting Arab Americans and Muslims couldn’t be more different.
- Rogers and Slotkin have advocated, justified, and defended unauthorized wars in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia that have devastated entire regions, fueled ethnic and religious conflicts and created refugee crises.
- Rogers and Slotkin have advanced and voted for unconstitutional, warrantless surveillance laws, including the Patriot Act and FISA 702, which violate the rights and privacy of Americans.
- Rogers and Slotkin have promoted the unlawful use of federal watchlists to deny rights to law-abiding Americans without due process—resulting in confinement, interrogations, delays, humiliation, and trauma—sometimes simply because a person has a common Arabic name.
- Rogers and Slotkin have endorsed censorship and assaults on free speech and expression, supporting government efforts to ban or manipulate social media and to outlaw or suppress criticisms of U.S. policy or foreign governments.
- I have always supported—and will always support—a rational, pro-America foreign policy that considers unintended consequences.
- I have voted—and will vote again—to repeal invalid war authorizations, such as the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs, that have been used illegitimately to justify never-ending war.
- I have demanded that Congress be held accountable, through declarations of war, for any and all offensive military actions to which the United States is a party—whether or not U.S. troops have been ordered into combat.
- I have led the charge against unconstitutional, warrantless surveillance, and I introduced bills and amendments to end these abusive NSA and FBI programs.
- I have opposed no-conviction federal watchlists, and I introduced legislation to prevent the government from using government watchlists to restrict the rights of any American without due process of law.
- I have consistently supported and defended the freedom of speech, including—and above all—speech that is unpopular or critical of the government, even when I disagree with the sentiment. I have unequivocally opposed the government’s meddling, directly or indirectly, with social media.
- Arab Americans and Muslims—like all Michiganders and all Americans—can count on me to follow the Constitution, uphold the Rule of Law, and protect all their rights all the time.
The primary election for U.S. Senate is on August 6. It’s important that every person in Michigan who cares about these issues—every person who cares about liberty—vote in this election.
Compiled by Arab America
Visit our Blog here!
