Biden still has some redeeming qualities, albeit just because he needs their votes
Biden condemns ‘anti-Arab hate’ after WSJ column
In an apparent response to the Wall Street Journal column that called Dearborn, Michigan – home to a large Arab community – “America’s Jihad Capital”, the US president has denounced “hate in all forms”.
“Americans know that blaming a group of people based on the words of a small few is wrong,” Biden said in a social media post. “That’s exactly what can lead to Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate, and it shouldn’t happen to the residents of Dearborn – or any American town.”
Last week, we reported that Arab American officials in Michigan – a key swing state – refused to meet with Biden’s campaign manager over the president’s unwavering support for Israel’s war on Gaza. You can read the full report here.
Since the column – which focused on local advocacy for Palestinian rights – was published on Friday, municipal officials, rights advocates and US legislators have come to the defence of the Michigan city that is home to large Arab and Muslim American communities.
“This is disgusting. WSJ should be ashamed of itself for promoting this kind of Islamophobic BS, and should immediately apologize to the residents of Dearborn and to Muslims everywhere,” Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal wrote in a social media post today.
US Senator Gary Peters, who represents Michigan, also said the column “endangers the entire Dearborn community”.