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Emgage Action has been actively advocating for Palestinian rights, highlighting a shift in Muslim American support for President Biden through influential polls, engaging in strategic dialogues with political leaders, and mobilising the community through voter outreach and public forums. Our efforts include direct engagement with figures like President Biden and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, advocating for resolutions such as the “Ceasefire in Gaza” and the Ceasefire Now Resolution, and collaborating with partners, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Through town halls, solidarity prayers, and campaigns, we ensure the voices of the Muslim American community are heard. By organising voter outreach events, policy advocacy, and media appearances, we highlight the need for a ceasefire, address rising Islamophobia, and advocate for balanced public discourse. This comprehensive approach underscores our commitment to peace, justice, and the self-determination of Palestinians, showcasing the power of community mobilisation in shaping U.S. foreign policy and public opinion. Below is an overview of all the actions that Emgage Action’s national and State Chapters have taken in regards to the Palestine conflict.
Click here to read our full document.
Emgage Action supports peace and prosperity for Muslims, Jews, and Christians living in the Holy Land. We condemn all forms of violence against civilians, especially children, and are committed to supporting all efforts in this regard.
Over 12,000 Palestinians, including over 5,000 children, have been killed by the Israeli government since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed over 1,000 Israelis. An immediate ceasefire is needed to stop the killing of innocent civilians and to allow the delivery of critically needed humanitarian aid. Immediate de-escalation is also needed in order to stop the violence from turning into a wider regional conflict, which could potentially involve the U.S. in a war. A long-term solution to this crisis is needed; this must include addressing the root cause, which is the Israeli occupation. There is no military solution, only a political one.
Since 2019, Emgage Action has been uplifting Congressional and electoral issue-based campaigns to call for freedom, justice, and equity for all Palestinians. We oppose the continued occupation of Palestinian lands and Israeli settlement activities that displace them from their homes and heritage. We support the right to boycott, divest, and sanction (BDS), as well as the Right of Return of Palestinians — providing those displaced and their descendants with fair compensation, should they accept it.
In our efforts to advocate for an immediate ceasefire, we have been working diligently with key civic and political organizations in Palestinian, Muslim, and human rights communities. We have also been directly engaging with policymakers at all levels to call for a ceasefire and to ground U.S. statements and actions in international law. We continue to educate the public and government officials about the context of this crisis: the decades-long Israeli occupation, the 15-year-long siege of Gaza, and the thousands of Palestinians killed during the occupation. It is critical that the U.S. use its influence to demand a ceasefire and the reaching of a political resolution.
Emgage Action continues its longstanding advocacy efforts in support of legislation to promote and protect the human rights of Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation and to ensure that United States taxpayer funds are not used by the government of Israel to support the military detention of Palestinian children, along with the unlawful seizure, appropriation, and destruction of Palestinian property.
Click here to read coverage about our current efforts and stances.
Click here to read all Emgage Action statements and press releases.
Click here for community resources and ways to support the Palestinian people.
Administration Engagement
1. CEO Wa’el Alzayat participated in a meeting with President Biden, alongside representatives from Palestinian, Arab, and Black Muslim communities.
a. Key topics included advocating for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid to Gaza, and a credible political process for Palestinian self-determination.
b. Concerns about rising anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States were also discussed
2. In collaboration with Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim groups, discussions were held with the U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, to address these issues, seeking concrete actions to combat bigotry.
3. Emgage met with Secretary of State Tony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and senior national security officials, emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, alongside partner organizations.
Legislation
1. H.Res.786 Endorsement
a. Supported Ceasefire Now Resolution, which currently has 18 cosponsors
b. Quote: “It is clear that there is no military solution to this crisis, only a political one that encompasses ending the occupation and recognizing the freedoms and equal rights of Palestinians in their homeland.”
2. Reached over 100 Congressional offices via virtual and in-person meetings as well as through letters.
3. Advocated for an immediate ceasefire.
4. Advocated for the reinstatement of UNRWA funding.
Calls to Action
a. X post
a. X post
a. Received over 4000 responses
Additional Action
1. Poll on Muslim American’s voting patterns
a. Conducted by National Organising Director, Mohamed Gula.
b. Found that only 5.2% of Muslim Americans would vote for President Biden.
Congressional Outreach
1. Met with Representative Maxwell Frost, Representative Darren Soto, Representative Kathy Castor, Representative Sheila McCormick, and Representative Frederica Wilson to ask them to cosponsor the Ceasefire Now Resolution.
State Political Engagement
1. Requested Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to use balanced language concerning the events of October 7th, a request that the City of Tampa honored.
2. Supported State Representative Angie Nixon who introduced a ceasefire resolution.
Community Engagement
1. December 15, 2023: Hosted town hall on Gaza crisis and its impact in Central Florida.
a. Guest speakers included Dr Vibert Issa White and Alicia Koutsoulieris.
b. Discussed how to leverage the power of the Muslim vote to affect U.S. foreign policy.
2. Attended Zakat Foundation dinner for Palestine humanitarian aid efforts in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and collected letters of support for the Ceasefire Now Resolution.
3. Hosted a community discussion on “Bridging Faith & Politics: United Against Hate” on Saturday, February 24th at the 2024 South Florida Muslim Conference.
a. Attended by many elected officials: Florida State Rep and Minority Leader Dotie Joseph, Florida State Rep. Angie Nixon, City of Miramar Mayor Wayne M. Messam, City of Lauderhill Commissioner Ray Martin, community leaders, CAIR, ICNA and Muslim Federation officials, Broward Sheriff Office’s Colonel Munib Ahmed, Emgage Founder Khurrum Wahid, Emgage Florida Outreach Coordinators Zakir Shareef and Tark Aouadi, Islamic Center of Greater Miami President Mian Tahir Ismail, Board Member Dr. Shazad, Imam Dr. Abdul Hamid Samra, Humanity International board member Younus Ismail, Masjid Jamaat Al-Mumineen Imam Mufti Izhar Khan, Islamic Center of Broward Imam Faisal Fattani ICB Board member Imran Bashir, Doctor Zafar Qureshi Director UMC Free Clinic attended the Ceremony with other dignitaries.
b. Rep. Dotie Joseph and Rep. Angie Nixon talked about our obligation to human rights around the world and in Palestine as well as how our community can get more involved in politics. We also had a productive conversation with Miramar Mayor Messam, faith leaders, and the community on how we can all be more inclusive of everyone. The panel discussion was moderated by Corey Shearer, CAC board member Afifa Khaliq, and Shaik Shafayat Mohamed from the Darul Uloom Institute.
c. Finished with a discussion around next steps and closed with a prayer. The next steps included hosting various protest rallies to advocate for a ceasefire, voting in mass as a community of multiple parties, and using our alliances and partnerships to create a more diverse and consistent civic engagement, attending state, county and municipal meetings to encourage resolutions in support of a ceasefire, and holding many of our elected officials accountable for lack of action on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Calls to Action
Administration Engagement
1. February 8, 2024: Members of the Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities in Michigan met with Samantha Power (U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator), Jon Finer (Principal Deputy National Security Advisor), Steve Benjamin (White House Public Engagement Director), Jamie Citron (Deputy Public Engagement Director), Tom Perez (Leader of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs), Dan Koh (Perez’s Deputy), and Mazen Basrawi (Director for Partnerships and Global Engagement at the National Security Council).
a. Emgage Michigan Senior Advisor Nada Al-Hanooti Quote: “ We are proud of those who participated, especially in light of the pain and trauma they and our collective communities have endured over the past four months. We believe it is essential to speak truth to power and to hold elected and appointed leaders accountable for their decision-making. Emgage fully supports participants’ demands for a full ceasefire and the delivery of more humanitarian assistance to help those in need, especially children. We also support calls to resume funding for UNRWA while withholding additional financial assistance to the Netanyahu government given their gross violations of human rights and war crimes against the Palestinian people. Finally, Emgage supports the participants’ demand to address the root causes of the crisis by ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinians.”
Congressional Outreach
1. Met with Senator Gary Peters, Representative Debbie Dingell, and Representative Elissa Slotkin to advocate for a ceasefire.
State Political Engagement
1. Prioritized the “No Business with Genocide” package.
2. Released call to action urging Gov. Whitmer to call for a ceasefire.
Community Engagement
1. Canvassed, phonebanked, and textbanked, targeting Muslim voters to mobilise the community to vote.
2. Launched a phone bank to encourage the community to vote uncommitted in the presidential primary.
3. Hosted a Michigan Civic Table meeting to address the community’s grievances regarding the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
4. Recognized elected officials who had publicly called for a ceasefire at Michigan Gala.
5. Encouraged voters to vote “uncommitted” in the February primary as part of the “Listen to Michigan” campaign.
a. We made 46,000 calls and sent 120,000 text messages to ask Michigan voters to vote “uncommitted.”
State Political Engagement
1. Held multiple meetings with key New York State stakeholders, including with the Governor, the Secretary of State, and Chief of Staff to address the rise in Islamophobia and one sided messaging.
2. Organized a NY Civic Table meeting to discuss grievances and engage Table in ongoing discussion about engagements with elected officials on the state and city level.
Community Engagement
1. Conducted extensive GOTV and phone banking efforts for District 3 Special Elections.
a. Advocated against the candidacy of former IDF soldier and current Republican county legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip.
2. Collaborated with the CUNY policy and procedures review team, headed by Judge Lippman, to integrate Islamophobia formally into CUNY’s evaluation framework.
a. This initiative aimed to ensure that bigotry and discrimination are effectively addressed and countered following the events of October 7th, establishing a more inclusive and respectful environment within the institution.
Calls to Action
1. Support Linda Tigani, Chair and Executive Director of the NYC Commission on Racial Equity
2. Call for Ceasefire
State Political Engagement
Congressional Outreach
1. November 15, 2023: Met with Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon and her Chief of Staff
a. Told that Scanlon will sign on to a letter authored by Alexadria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive members calling for a bilateral ceasefire.
State Political Engagement
1. Met with state and city officials regarding various resolutions, offering them guidance on resolutions.
2. Urged policymakers at all levels to ensure US decisions and statements align with international law.
3. Advocated for de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire.
4. Urged public officials, governmental bodies, schools, and other institutions to offer support to Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Americans in equal measure as they offered support to Jewish and Israeli Americans.
5. October 26, 2023: Met with Governor Josh Shapiro and members of his Administration to address key concerns regarding the crisis in Gaza and the need for public officials to support Muslim Pennsylvanians in this difficult moment.
a. Asks include:
I. Increase the diversity in his Administration
II. Hold ongoing dialogue with Pennsylvania Muslims and attending a meet and greet with the Muslim community
III. Speak out against harassment at schools and jobs, iterating support for freedom of speech
IV. Release a statement supporting a ceasefire
V. Governor Shapiro agreed to all of the above, with the exception of the ceasefire, citing potential implications for American hostages.
6. Joined the leadership team for the Pennsylvania Uncommitted campaign.
7. Working with a Philadelphia Palestinian Americans’ organisational leaders to craft ceasefire resolution for City Council, and schedule meetings with City Council members to discuss resolution.
Community Engagement
1. Hosted About Palestine Iftar, which included an information session with African American Muslim community members about the history of the occupation and more facts regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Administration Engagement
1. January 11, 2024: Co-convened a listening session for community stakeholders and the Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
a. Focussed on civil rights issues Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities are facing, particularly since October 7.
2. Contacted the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to discuss victim resources following the hate crime that occurred in Austin on February 4.
Congressional Outreach
1. October 18, 2024: Met with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher to discuss the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza and increase in anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiment that is making our communities feel unsafe locally.
2. January 12, 2024: Met with Senator Ted Cruz’s staff to ask for conditions on military aid, request his assistance for Texans with family members trapped in Gaza, and ask him to support access to humanitarian aid in Gaza that is currently being blocked by Israel.
Community Engagement
1. January 20, 2024: Conducted voter outreach at the Arab Cultural Center’s Palestine Day event.
2. November 3, 2023: Attended a solidarity jummah prayer for Palestine at Houston City Hall on.
3. January 9, 2024: Emgage Texas Chair and Policy Associate spoke at Houston City Council to urge city leaders to improve public safety for Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities and pass a ceasefire resolution.
4. Worked on a coalition response to governor’s executive order targeting pro-Palestinian student organizations.
Congressional Outreach
1. Met with Senator Kaine to discuss advocating for the conditioning of aid, aligning with the principles advocated by Senator Van Hollen as well as Representative Beyer and Representative Connolly.
a. Representative Beyer and Representative Connolly voted against the latest standalone Israel aid package.
b. Representative Connolly also highlighted issues regarding West Bank and settler violence, criticized Israeli cabinet members for calling for ethnic cleansing, and has consistently advocated for an increase in humanitarian aid.
This was a total of 7 congressional meetings.
State Political Engagement
1. Conducted 24 state legislative meetings during the legislative session.
2. Opposed SR 1, which expresses support for Israel and condemns Hamas.
3. Opposed SB 604 and HB 758,which propose a prohibition on boycotting Israel.
Community Engagement
1. Co-sponsored suhoor night with 6,000+ attendees; vendors gave 10% to Palestine.
Michigan Public, NPR: “No easy trip home”: How Palestinian-Americans are making sense of their identity right now
Newsweek: Yemen Strikes Are Another Nail in Joe Biden’s Coffin for Muslim Voters
The Washington Post: Israel-Gaza war, LGBTQ rights complicate alliances for U.S. Muslims
The New York Times: Biden Navigates Divisions Over Gaza Inside the White House and Beyond
PBS NewsHour: Arab and Muslim Americans on how U.S. support for Israel could affect their votes in 2024
Reuters: No ceasefire in Gaza, no votes, Muslim Americans tell Biden
Politico: Biden won the Michigan primary decisively — but not by enough to calm Democratic angst
Politico: Michigan Dems acknowledge Muslim American frustration with Biden, but question Trump as alternative
Religion News Service: Michigan’s Muslim voters mobilize to vote ‘uncommitted’ in Democratic primary
Religion News Service: Muslim and Arab Americans feel betrayed by Biden. Can he win back their votes?
Associated Press: Muslim leaders reject chance to break bread with Biden as anger over Gaza festers
Associated Press: Muslim leaders are ‘out of words’ as they tire of the White House outreach on the war in Gaza
Emgage statement on meeting with White House delegation to urge for ceasefire
Emgage Action celebrates historic “Uncommitted” vote calling for urgent Gaza policy change
Emgage Action Statement on Attacks in Rafah and Pending Ground Invasion
Emgage CEO Attends Meeting with Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer
Emgage Action’s Response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address
1. Emgage Florida (in partnership with CAIR)
a. Provided an alternative perspective on the Gaza crisis and to highlight the importance of a ceasefire.
1. Emgage Action Texas’ Houston Chronicle ad
a. Called for a ceasefire and an end to the indiscriminate violence against Palestinians in Gaza.
