The Post Election Anti-Muslim Hate — From The Left
The anti-Muslim and Islamophobic attacks I've received from Democrats must stop, and we need to stand united against fascism
by Qasim Rashid
This is an uncomfortable piece to write, but a necessary one. We know anti-Muslim hate from the right has been here, is rising, and will spike likely to record levels once Trump formally takes office. But right now, post-election, I’m seeing a rising sense of anti-Muslim sentiment among Democrats on the claim that Harris lost due to the American Muslim vote. This is dangerous for a number of reasons and we must counter this hate immediately. The morning after the election I wrote:
Over the past few days these attacks from folks on the left have increased. I’ve received texts from Muslim and Arab friends expressing fear—not just of the eventual and inevitable fascist ban on Muslims—but of the bigotry they are experiencing here and now. I’ve also received many thoughtful notes of support from my white Christian friends expressing love, compassion, solidarity, and asking me to be safe because of the rhetoric they’re hearing in their circles. To those allies I am grateful. But today I want to candidly lay bare this hate to each of you as a reminder of its reality, and how you can be an ally in these difficult times. Let’s Address This.
This anti-Muslim hate is driven by the perception that Americans who are Muslim cost Kamala Harris the election, because they voted for Jill Stein. Apparently, the claim goes, the peaceful protests American Muslims held against Biden for funding genocide in Gaza caused Harris to lose every swing state, and thus the presidency. This claim is, in a word, meritless. Before I provide the receipts on just how meritless this claim is, let me offer a snapshot of what this disinformation is igniting.
In response to my detailed analysis of what the Democratic Party did wrong in this election, this person gloated that “Muslim ban #2 is coming, as are deportation camps”—apparently all due to our critiques of President Biden. Off the bat, if you are offended that a citizen criticizes the President, then it isn’t democracy you support, its blind compliance. As Teddy Roosevelt famously said, “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president.” Apparently some never got that memo, and are upset I dared to criticize the Democratic Party.
What ignited this response? My suggestion that the Democratic Party ignored their base of young voters, which is part of the reason why voters 18-29 shifted 30 points to the right in the 2024 election. The fact is, we cannot and will not win voters back if our self-reflection amounts to “GO F*CK YOURSELF.” Similarly, we will not win back voters if we sensationalize criticism of the Democratic Party as the same thing as rape. Yes, that is a claim some are making in their efforts to rebuke my criticisms.
Apparently, according to Karen, Democrats were raped, and criticizing the party’s strategy this election amounts to rape shaming. Yes, it is as absurd and as offensive as it sounds, but this is again a snapshot of the rhetoric I’ve received post-election. And yet, the rhetoric is only getting worse—including calls to genocide.
This person openly called to “flatten Palestine,” which is a call to mass murder and genocide. Imagine being so angry at a fellow citizen criticizing unjust foreign policy, that your response is to wage all out genocide against innocent and unarmed people? Again, how does this distinguish from MAGA Republicans and the violent rhetoric we often see from the right? Especially when the above genocidal rhetoric is coupled with ongoing declarations of being victimized by American Muslims, and wishing violence upon American Muslims. See the next example.
“I hope you all get what was promised” is also an implicit acknowledgement that the Trump and Netanyahu regimes promise genocide, concentration camps, and ethnic cleansing—and far from condemning this horror—it is now being “hoped” upon American Muslims. This is a theme in many of the comments I’ve received, taunting me to “enjoy what you voted for.” Obviously, I did not and would never vote for Trump, and have actively worked for a decade against his fascism, including donating thousands of dollars of my own income to Democratic candidates running against Trump candidates. But it seems none of that matters anymore—I should “enjoy what I voted for.”
And finally, before I bring up the receipts of what actually transpired this election, another common theme of the hateful attacks American Muslims are receiving post-election is that “we stood with you [Muslims], and you abandoned us.”
Never mind that the final piece I wrote before the election was to implore people to vote against Trump so that the ACA care my daughter needs to live is not taken away. Again, apparently none of that matters to these critics. And if they are willing to pause the hate and look at facts, they’ll see the facts completely undermine their meritless and violent claims against American Muslims.
The Facts of Jill Stein’s Negligible Impact
The facts are explicitly clear that American Muslims did not cost Harris the Presidency. In reality, Jill Stein only won between 0.4% and 0.9% of the vote in the 38 states in which her name appeared on the ballot. The largest chunk of votes she received in any given state was in the very blue state of New Jersey, earning 0.9% or 34,953 votes. But what about in the Blue Wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin?