In New Jersey, Arab Americans Rally for Bernie Sanders
In New Jersey, Arab Americans Rally for Bernie Sanders
Alayna Alfaro
PolitickerNJ
CLIFTON – It was standing room only at the Palestinian American Community Center (PACC) in Clifton on Thursday as members of New Jersey’s thriving Arab American community came out to support the presidential candidate many in the community feel best represents their interests: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
The event—organized by Arab Americans for Bernie Sanders—brought together Arab leaders to advocate about why community members should head to the polls on Tuesday June 7 to cast ballots in the primary for Sanders rather than his Democratic competition former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Speakers included Brooklyn activist and Bernie Sanders delegate Linda Sarsour, Michigan comedian/Sanders surrogate Amer Zahr and Jim Zogby founder of Arab American institute who called in by phone. Zogby is an ardent Palestine supporter who Sanders has enlisted to help write the Democratic Party’s platform.
According to Zogby, it is Sanders’ stance on Palestine that sets him apart from Clinton.
“This is the first presidential candidate since [Jesse] Jackson in 1988 that has made a point of advocating justice for Palestine and not just a two-state solution that everyone talks about. He talked about compassion,” Zogby said of Sanders. “We now have a chance to support a presidential candidate who not only advocates for our issues but has gone out on a limb. We have the power to be a decisive power for him.”
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