Harris campaign responds after Muslim leader expelled from rally
The Kamala Harris campaign is apologizing after a local Muslim Democratic leader in Detroit was summarily kicked out of their rally, reported the Detroit Metro Times — saying that it was done in error.
"Ahmed Ghanim, a Democrat, says he accepted an invitation to the event and was seated in the Royal Oak Music Theatre when a campaign organizer ordered him to leave," reported Steve Neavling. "Ghanim, who immigrated to the U.S. from Egypt in 2001 and is vehemently opposed to U.S. support for Israel’s military actions, says he still has been given no reason why he was removed from the event."
According to Ghanim, the unidentified organizer "took me to the door, and she closed it, and I found two police officers waiting there, and she said, ‘You have to leave right now.’ I asked why she was kicking me out. She wouldn’t answer. I was very calmly asking why I was being kicked out.”
A police officer then threatened to arrest him if he didn't leave, as he headed out.
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“They keep saying they want the Muslims and the Arabs, but we aren’t even welcome at an event,” said Ghanim, who noted that many Muslims on social media were enraged over the incident. “They know me. I ran there. It’s my district. I canvassed all over Royal Oak.”
The Harris campaign has responded to the news with a statement that Ghanim's expulsion from the event was not authorized.
“The campaign was swiftly informed by Emgage Action of yesterday’s incident and looked into it,” said their statement. “Our campaign regrets this action and its impact on Dr. Ghanim and the community, and he is welcome at future events. We value our relationship with the Muslim American community and are committed to ensuring all community and political spaces are welcoming and respectful to every American.”
All of this comes as the Harris campaign faces tension and distrust from Muslim voters, many of whom are frustrated over the Israel-Hamas War and the lack of conditions the U.S. government so far has placed on aid to the Israelis as civilians continue to face mass death and displacement in Gaza. Michigan is one of a very small handful of states where the Muslim population is large enough to have a measurable impact on the electorate.