Bernie Sanders at ISNA
Bernie Sanders talks tough in well-received address to US Muslims
On subjects such as Uighurs and the Saudi war in Yemen, presidential candidate makes an impression at the Islamic Society of North America convention
Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the leading candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, received a rousing welcome at a special event at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention, where he was given a standing ovation and made his presidential pitch to Muslims of America.
Organisers said some 6,000 people attended the event on Saturday evening, which also saw fellow Democrat candidate Julian Castro address the close-to-capacity crowd at the George R Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with Debbie Almontaser, founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, at the Islamic Society of North America’s Convention in Houston, Texas, on Saturday (Reuters)
Sanders and Castro were the only two Democratic candidates to accept ISNA’s invitation to attend the event for a community that has felt increasingly marginalised under the presidency of Donald Trump. Attendees made no bones as to who they had come to see.
“I feel strongly that the divisiveness and bigotry that Trump has introduced in the country can only be counteracted by a person like Bernie Sanders,” said Moosa Khan, who stood up to applaud the Vermont senator a number of times during his address.
“He made an effort to come here and talk and listen. He is showing his support for our community and he definitely has my vote.”
In contrast to Castro, Sanders’ address and policy talking points seemed to have been tailored to appeal to some of the pressing concerns of the American Muslim community.
Sanders also said that, as US president, he would hold China to account for its persecution of the Uighurs in Xinjiang province. He also described India’s unilateral decision in August to revoke the semi-autonomous status of Kashmir and impose a communication blockade and military siege on the valley as “unacceptable”.
He then chastised “political elites in both the Republican and Democratic parties” for pursuing “endless wars and interventions”.Sanders said that, unlike Trump, who has “an affection for authoritarian regimes around the world,” he “would make democracy and human rights a priority for the United States of America”.
so weird that other candidates were awol. did aipac send a memo. this seems like a bad move on their part.
More likely they chose not to participate as they are instrumental in advocating for wars against Muslim nations. and in true xenophobic fashion lump all Muslims into one category similar to or the same as the far right wing.
I love how Bernie used the appearance to bring up Yemen.
No offence intended as I know you are using a phone. There is an open thread that was previously posted.
thanks!! no offense taken from you evah!???
For information purposes, this is the results of a Pew Research study done in 2015. As I noted in a comment the other day, it is incorrect to infer that Muslims are overall from the brown/black races. The candidates who skipped this forum missed a hugely diverse group.

Bernie is shaking the State Theater tonight in Portland (ME)!
T and R, mags!! 🙂