More than any other presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders has built a historically inclusive and forward-thinking movement, one that represents America as a set of ideas grounded in the belief that all humans are equal and worthy of dignity and rights.
Senator Sanders is a consistent supporter of justice, equality and human rights for all, including the Palestinian people. Unlike any other presidential candidate before him, Senator Sanders declared on stage at the Democratic debate of December 2019:
What U.S. foreign policy must be about is not just being pro-Israel. We must be pro-Palestinian as well.
Such a statement is unprecedented. Even the mere mention of the existence of Palestinians has been challenged by many politicians. Senator Sanders, however, has repeatedly drawn attention to the injustices of the occupation. Further, he has stated he believes that US foreign aid to Israel can be leveraged to hold it accountable for its human rights abuses. He has opposed anti-BDS bills, such as S.1., on First Amendment grounds. He has spoken out against the so-called “Deal of the Century” and is uniquely qualified to challenge the status quo when it comes to American foreign policy, especially in the Middle East.
We call upon Palestinian Americans to join those who support equality, justice, and human rights and urge them to vote for Senator Sanders.
We further encourage all to donate $19.48 – or any amount – to Bernie’s campaign at: http://actblue.com/donate/palestine
Signed,
Organizations: US Palestinian Council; The Arab Network for Culture, Opinion and Media in America; Palestinian American Council – Chicago, IL; Palestinian American Athletic Association – Chicago, IL; Jerusalem Center – Chicago, IL; Palestinian American Council – Louisiana; Palestinian Democratic Coalition; Network of Arab American Professionals of Orange County, CA; Palestinian American Club; Palestinian American Youth Organization; The Palestinian House of New England.
Individuals: Dr. Khalil Barhoum, President. US Palestinian Council; Dr. Rula Barakat, Palestinian American Woman’s Association; Masoud Khayyat, Dallas Palestine Coalition; Linda Sarsour, Co-Founder, MPower Change; Abdelhamid Siyam; Tawfiq Barqawi, Vice Chairman, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; Nael Abid, Executive Director, Arab American Community Center of Florida; Monadel Herzallah, Arab American Union Members Council; Mohammad Abd-Elsalam, President, Palestine Aid Society – Detroit, MI; Firas Altirawi, Member of the General Secretariat of the Arab Network for Culture, Opinion and Media; Ghassan Barakat, President. Humanitarian Relief Foundation; Saba Shami, Arab American Democratic Caucus of Virginia; Paul Noursi, Arab American Democratic Caucus of Virginia; Hanna Hanania, Arab American Democratic Caucus of Virginia; Senan Shaq, Board member, US Palestinian Council; Yassar Dahbour, Arab American Caucus – California Democratic Party; Rateb Rabie, President/CEO. Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation; Walid Faris, President, Palestinian American Culture Center – Houston, TX; Samir Totah, Co-Founder, Palestinian American Coalition of San Francisco; Amir Darwish, Co-Founder, Coalition of Palestinian American Organizations; Rasha Mubarak, Unbought Power; Hussam Misleh, Former President, American Federation of Ramallah-Palestine; Amer Zahr, President, New Generation for Palestine; Jamal Nassar, Dean Emeritus, California State University – San Bernardino; Noura Erakat, Jadaliyya and Rutgers University; Sam Hindi, Mayor and Councilmember, Foster City, CA; Huwaida Arraf, civil rights/human rights attorney; Salem Ajlouni, Santa Clara County Single Payer Health Care Coalition; Amani Barakat, LA4Palestine; Nida Sahouri, Coalition for Justice in Palestine.
