Arabs, Muslims add to voice in US

Arecord 12 Arabs and Muslims won seats in the legislatures of six US states in this month’s midterm elections, among a total of more than 80 who won elective office in the country. However, they have a huge burden on their shoulders when it comes to addressing the issues that mainstream America would rather not address about its communities. They can use their platforms as elected members of state legislatures to introduce resolutions and laws that can reverse many of the anti-Arab and anti-Muslim policies that scar America’s claims to respect diversity. The key question will be: Can they win the support and co-sponsorship of their legislative colleagues to take an issue they introduce and move it to the point of public discussion, and then possible approval?

The easiest issue for these legislators to address and gain support for is the need to strengthen the fight against Islamophobia in America, which is on the increase. A recent report from the Council on American-Islamic Relations noted a 9 percent increase in civil rights complaints from Muslims in 2020.

Another issue is the exclusion of Arabs and Muslims from the US Census. For many decades, the census has included ethnic and racial categories — while not asking about religion — with those that are counted benefiting from laws that demand they be given opportunities to improve their chances of being elected, as well as receiving federal and state grants to fund their cultural needs. Because Arabs are excluded, they do not receive such funding and the government is not obligated to “create” congressional districts that bring together in one district an area’s

Arab voting population. Instead, Arab communities are often marginalized. Of course, the toughest issues facing these legislators involve politics and foreign affairs. The pro-Israel movement, for example, has spent a century building its beliefs into the mainstream consciousness. One of their concerns is defending Israel against all forms of criticism. That includes the passage of 28 statelevel laws that punish Americans who express opinions critical of Israel’s foreign policies. These anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions laws prohibit Americans from refusing to do business with Israel.

Of the six states represented by these new Arab and Muslim legislators, four have anti-BDS laws. The key to overcoming these racist prohibitions to American rights lies in the need to be strategic and to build coalitions. Their language has to be moderate and convincing to the public, not driven by emotion or anger.

These state legislators can help educate the public about all of these issues and lay the groundwork for an educated American public that will better understand the truth, rather than continue to be brainwashed by racist haters and pro-Israel propaganda. It will not happen overnight, but the seeds have now been planted and they can grow.