A national Muslim activist group, “Abandon Biden,” is organizing efforts in nine swing states to prevent President Joe Biden’s reelection as a response to his handling of the Israel and Hamas conflict. The group aims to politically punish Biden, even if it leads to a Trump presidency, for what they describe as enabling mass civilian casualties in Gaza. Abdel Salam, a human rights professor from the University of Minnesota, is leading the movement.
The group’s leaders are evaluating third-party candidates and plan to endorse one this summer. Salam believes that a Biden loss due to his Israel-Hamas policies would push the Democratic Party to adopt a more pro-Palestinian stance. This sentiment reflects broader frustrations among Muslims, Arab-Americans, young voters, and progressives who have been critical of Biden’s approach to the conflict. More than half a million Democrat primary voters protested Biden’s handling of the war by casting “uncommitted” votes against him.
