MINNEAPOLIS — As the spotlight was on Minnesota during President Joe Biden's visit, thousands gathered in downtown Minneapolis to protest his support of Israel.
"I believe that the Palestinian civilians should not be punished for the actions of one civilian group," Sana Wazwaz, American Muslims for Palestine spokesperson said.
Wazwaz helped organize the demonstration that started outside of the Minneapolis government building. Demonstrators then peacefully marched down 3rd Avenue towards an event for the President.
Supporters of Palestine want the President to end all funding to Israel. The state is retaliating against Hamas for the Oct. 7 unsolicited attack that killed more than 1,400 people. About 240 people were taken hostage.
More than 8,700 Palestinians have been killed in the war, mostly women and minors, and more than 22,000 people have been wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Wednesday. The numbers on both sides are unprecedented in decades of Israeli-Palestinian fighting.
Steve Hunegs, leader of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, said social media fuels misinformation about the history of Israel and Palestine. The complicated past between the two dates back decades.
"Cease fire would be disastrous right now for Israel," Hunegs said. "It would essentially immunize Hamas for having to cross the border committing horrible atrocities and taken hostages."
Community leader Jaylani Hussein also had some words for Presiden Biden during his visit.
"We stand on the side of saving life, we stand on the side of peace, we stand on the side of recognizing the humanity of Palestinian children," Hussein said. "50,000 Muslim voters plus, will not be voting for President Biden in the upcoming 2024 election. This is not a faint promise. This is a guarantee."
If the groups follow through, and mobilizes that many Minnesota Muslims in opposition to Biden, it would still represent just a small fraction of Minnesota voters. But for those following a similar movement among Muslim and Arab American voters nationally, the movement cannot be ignored.
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