M ONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2024
Michigan State’s Independent Voice
STATE NEWS.COM
ELECTION 2024 Uncommitted National Movement voters splintered before election By Anish Topiwala atopiwala@statenews.com A national movement aiming to hold the Democratic Party accountable for its compliance with the war in Gaza remains splintered before the election. The Uncommitted National Movement is a protest campaign led by anti-war activists who initially pressured President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo in Israel. It advocated for voters to vote uncommitted in the Michigan Democratic Primaries to send a message to Biden and the Democratic Party. The movement well surpassed its goal of 10,000 uncommitted votes in Michigan with over 100,000, making up over 13% of total votes cast. In September, the Uncommitted National Movement announced it would not be endorsing Harris after she failed to meet the movement’s requests, while still urging uncommitted voters against supporting a Trump presidency in any way. For those who participated in the Uncommitted National Movement’s campaign in Michigan, opinions on the presidential candidates are divided. Many Arab American voters have taken a stance against supporting the Democratic party. Thasin Sardar, trustee for the Islamic Center of East Lansing, proudly said he has worked for the Democratic Party in the past and still identifies as a Democrat. Yet, he said he feels left out by the party. “We feel disenfranchised, our voices are not being heard,” Sardar said. When it came time for the Democratic primaries, Sardar said joining the Uncommitted National Movement was “a no-brainer” for him. But the movement has split into many directions, Sardar said, with some not supporting Harris and others believing her to be better than Republican candidate Donald Trump. Others have gone even further and embraced Trump, which which Sardar said he disagrees with but understands.
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Illustration by Riya Patchava.