Over the previous two months, the American Muslim neighborhood, like the remainder of the world, has watched in horror because the Israeli conflict machine unleashed among the most brutal navy violence in latest reminiscence, killing over 16,000 Palestinians.
The 3.45 million U.S. Muslims, who are inclined to lean Democratic based on Pew Research Center, are in grief, and disbelief and really feel betrayed by President Joe Biden’s steady assist for Israel and refusal to name for a humanitarian cease-fire.
However, the neighborhood has reacted by turning their emotions of grief, outrage and helplessness into motion by mobilizing for protests, sit-ins and vigils, based on Hussam Ayloush.
Ayloush is a neighborhood chief within the Greater Los Angeles Area and has held the workplace of govt director on the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) since 1998.
Speaking completely to Daily Sabah, Ayloush mentioned how American Muslims have reacted to the continued Israeli brutality in Gaza and what they’re doing to carry politicians accountable.
“They are demanding motion from native, state and nationwide elected officers by way of cellphone, e-mail and in-person conferences, collaborating in Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) actions as a type of peaceable dissent,” he mentioned.
“They are additionally creating and sharing advocacy posts on social media, signing petitions calling for a everlasting cease-fire, attending metropolis council conferences to talk out in assist of Palestine and organizing teach-ins to fight misinformation and educate the general public in regards to the historical past of the area,” Ayloush added.
The neighborhood has constantly been exhibiting up for Palestine and talking out towards Israel’s unlawful occupation and system of apartheid for many years. However, it has been extra vocal than ever given the right-wing Israeli authorities and navy have clearly ramped up their aggression – not simply in Gaza however within the West Bank additionally.
“With the assistance of social media, we’re watching a genocide occur in actual time as Israel bombs Gaza’s residential buildings, mosques, church buildings, faculties and hospitals, killing greater than 16,000 Palestinian civilians, together with no less than 6,150 youngsters,” mentioned Ayloush.
“We are listening to immediately from the mouths of Israeli officers their plans to ‘level Gaza’ and develop their settlements, and watching in disbelief because the U.S. authorities voices their unconditional assist for Israel and turns into complicit in a genocide.”
Grief, inspiration
On the overall feeling amongst neighborhood members and leaders, Ayloush mentioned that this was a painful time for a lot of, and they’re collectively grieving for the numerous civilians murdered, injured, imprisoned and displaced beneath Israel’s brutal occupation of Palestine – not solely up to now two months however over the previous 75 years.
“Of course, there are emotions of disappointment and outrage, however many have additionally felt impressed by watching the resiliency proven by the folks of Gaza.”
He added that the neighborhood members and leaders have been vocal about advocating for Palestine for many years, so mobilizing and utilizing their voices was nothing new.
“For many, having the ability to attend protests, converse with elected officers and have interaction in different types of activism has been a method to stay hopeful,” Ayloush mentioned.
The American Muslim neighborhood has additionally voiced their frustration with the bias and one-sided rhetoric that has predominantly been the narrative in Western media.
“At the start, media retailers largely contributed to spreading disinformation – such because the extensively circulated however now-debunked story about 40 beheaded infants – in addition to Islamophobic, racist and dehumanizing rhetoric, which has had devastating penalties,” mentioned Ayloush.
He additionally blamed the media’s biased narrative for the unprecedented improve in hate crimes towards Palestinians, Muslims, and Arabs since Oct. 7.
Growing assist
Above the hate, the Palestinian trigger has additionally seen rising assist from folks of all backgrounds as Gazans at present residing by the violence and bloodshed share movies and pictures exposing Israel’s atrocities.
“Millions of persons are sharing their tales. It’s not simply Muslims, Palestinians and Arabs who’re speaking about Palestine now – it’s folks from all backgrounds and all faiths who’re working to share the truth of what’s occurring in Gaza and the occupied West Bank,” he mentioned.
“Even although many of those photographs, movies and testimonies don’t make it to mainstream news channels, that doesn’t imply persons are sitting again and doing nothing. The neighborhood has not, and won’t, enable what is actually occurring in Palestine to be silenced. Community members are sharing the movies and pictures on-line, and they’re additionally giving interviews, making public feedback, organizing sit-ins and attending protests,” Ayloush mentioned.
They are additionally working diligently to sort out the U.S. authorities’s pro-Israel insurance policies by countering false narratives by educating the general public about Israel’s 75-year historical past of apartheid and navy occupation and advocating for a political answer that ends the occupation and the apartheid system that denies Palestinians equal rights.
The American Muslim neighborhood can also be placing strain on organizations that financially assist Israel’s oppression of Palestinians, by the BDS motion, difficult the “terrorism narrative” and different destructive portrayals of Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims within the media, based on the CAIR-LA govt director.
“We are advocating for a reassessment of U.S. navy help to Israel and the necessity to respect worldwide regulation, in addition to making certain that the correct to free speech is upheld and defending folks from retaliation for voicing solidarity with Palestine.”
“Many Muslim activists are actually extra dedicated to political activism to make sure that their voice is heard and their points are addressed,” mentioned Ayloush.
Deeply involved
Concerning the U.S. authorities’s try and silence pro-Palestinian voices like Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Ayloush criticized the U.S. Congress’ censure of its solely Palestinian American member.
He described it as an try by members of Congress who assist the apartheid regime in Israel to penalize and silence those that dare to reveal and problem Israeli human rights abuses.
“Pro-Palestinian voices, resembling Congresswoman Tlaib’s, symbolize the hundreds of thousands of Americans nationwide who’re horrified by the atrocities that Israel is committing towards the folks of Gaza. It is deeply regarding that there’s such a push to censure and silence those that take a principled and courageous stance towards genocide and ethnic cleaning of the folks in Gaza,” Ayloush mentioned.
He additionally referred to as out some members of Congress for making “racist, bigoted and disparaging feedback towards Muslims and Palestinians with no obvious penalties.”
“Congress needs to be deeply ashamed of its double commonplace and makes an attempt to suppress such a precious voice at a time when it’s so significantly wanted,” he mentioned.
Making Muslim voices heard
With the election 12 months arising, nevertheless, Ayloush believes that the Muslim American neighborhood will make their voices heard within the ballots.
He mentioned that many neighborhood members have expressed a excessive stage of discontent and frustration with President Biden, even going so far as promising to not vote for him within the upcoming elections.
“Biden has failed the Arab and Muslim constituency, he has failed America’s pursuits, and he has failed his personal humanity, and voters are seeing and recognizing that,” Ayloush mentioned.
“I anticipate a powerful present of the neighborhood’s rising political affect, particularly in races the place the Muslim and Arab votes can swing elections, resembling in battleground states and districts.”
“On Election Day, those that supported the unfolding genocide in Gaza will likely be listening to from many Americans who felt betrayed by these politicians,” he added.
Source: www.dailysabah.com