[I begin with the necessary caveat that everything I say here represents my own personal opinion, separate and apart from my role as the Executive Director at The Usuli Institute.]
My Dear Fellow Muslim Voters,
Greetings of Peace (al salamu ‘alaykum).
If you are still considering voting for either Harris or Trump, as a question of voting for “the lesser of two evils,” or worse, planning NOT to vote at all, I kindly ask you to please consider what follows here.
As many of us struggle with the question of “What Can I Do?” in the face of a ferocious and escalating American-funded genocide, I believe real change begins with our own, individual moral choices. The upcoming U.S. election is a monumental example, given that the outcome may ironically hinge on Muslim votes in the swing states. There are no coincidences.
As ethical Muslims, we understand that God will not help to change our condition without our own proactive change. Casting a vote for justice is a critical act of resistance. It also signals to God that we are on God’s side as we humbly call for God’s help.
In these dark times when there appear to be no good choices and all roads seem to lead to devastation, now is the time to stand on principle. As individuals, we cannot control the outcome of the election or the genocide, but we can stand up and be counted in favor of Principle, which matters in God’s eyes and for our souls. I believe if enough of us stand up for Principle, it will matter in more ways than we think.
If you are unsure where you stand, these voices made a powerful difference for me:
One of the Most Powerful Palestinian Voices in Diaspora
I was deeply moved by this epic talk by Palestinian American and lawyer, Jana al-Akhras, on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the genocide (Start 2:22).
I am beyond inspired and proud to call her my sister in faith and humanity.
Talk about putting things into perspective. Listen to this.
I found this impassioned illumination by Sami Hamdi on my Instagram feed. A heartfelt thank you to
for hosting and sharing it. In the excerpt, Sami Hamdi expresses the anger, rage, and pain we have all been feeling, while exposing the fear-mongering propaganda being used to convince us that Trump is more scary than Harris. If you have time to watch the lead up to this segment, or better yet the entire interview, it is extremely powerful. But this exchange (Start at 1:12:20) is supercharged:Sami Hamdi on stepping over dead Palestinian bodies to vote for Harris out of fear of Trump (28 September 2024).
Chris Hedges on the Difference Between Trump and Harris
Is Trump really worse than Harris? For a nuanced analysis, no one does it better than the brilliant
. This quote sums it up:
Which brings me to the point of my letter.
When everything on the ground looks dark and hopeless, what can we do except look up and do our part?
I believe our every action (or inaction) demonstrates whether we take God’s ethics and morals seriously or not. In this consequential election cycle, when genocide, climate disaster, and so much else is at the tipping point of destruction, despair is not an option. It matters if and how we vote.
Allow me to put forth how I became convinced that voting for Jill Stein of the Green Party is the only choice we have as ethical creations of God, as humans, as Muslims.
Watch this clip of Breaking Points, an independent news media site where the hosts, Saagar Engeti (Republican) and Krystal Ball (Democrat) come together on Populist ideals. In this interview, Jill Stein discusses her Theory of Power, how to build an alternative to the two-party duopoly, and why voting for the Green Party is NOT a wasted vote (Start at 4:18):
WATCH this second interview which blows my mind for two reasons: 1) it begins with footage of Jill Stein being assaulted by the police and arrested as she stands with students on the front lines of a campus protest (!); and 2) she goes on to powerfully delineate her actions for her First Day in Office. Her action list is nothing short of an ethical wishlist.
I have always loved and respected Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now! for its decades-long fearless reporting and truth-telling. Watch this engaging segment highlighting Jill Stein (Jewish, raised as a Zionist) and her running mate, Butch Ware (Muslim), as they present their case for candidacy, address mainstream criticisms, and articulate their positions. For me, it was compelling and surprisingly impressive, especially Jill Stein’s responses to issues raised by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes and Noura Erakat; and her answer to the assertion that anti-Zionism is equal to anti-semitism.
Lastly, consider these interesting tidbits:
If she can garner 5% of the popular vote in 2024, she will qualify for federal funding in the next election cycle and the Green Party movement can build serious momentum.
A vote for Jill Stein is a serious vote for an alternative to the two-party duopoly. It is an investment in the long game and our collective future.
Frederick Douglass on power: “Power concedes nothing without a demand.”
We must make our demands loud and clear and on the record. If you vote Harris or Trump, ie. the “lesser of two evils,” there is no record of the demand to end genocide. By voting for Jill Stein, our demand is on record.
Alice Walker on power: “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.”
We DO have power in numbers, if only we would realize it. When elections are won by narrow margins, consider the following:8 million environmental voters did not vote in the 2020 election
1 out of 3 eligible voters did not vote in the 2020 election
The Muslim vote in this election cycle matters more than it ever has, given the swing state dynamics.
Among the most effective propaganda campaigns suppressing our collective power:
“People are powerless.”
“Resistance is futile.”
“A vote for Jill Stein is a vote for Trump”
All other candidates are unequivocally pro-genocide and pro-war.
Jill Stein says she will end the genocide on DAY ONE in office. What more do we want?
In this moment, I believe we have no greater priority than to vote against the genocide. Everything else pales in comparison.
If a vote for Jill Stein results in a Trump presidency, so be it. It is a fair consequence for the evil genocide we, Americans, have been forced to pay for with our tax dollars. And, as Sami Hamdi powerfully points out, the Dems have already been doing what Trump threatens to do.
If the last Trump presidency is any indication, the silver lining of a Trump win is that everyone and their brother will come out of the woodwork to fight injustice. With Trump in office, Americans got active and busy making change - and the power of people was, in fact, realized. Conversely, once Biden took office, everyone stopped resisting - to our collective detriment. This is not an argument in favor of Trump, but recognition of a consolation of sorts.
Above all, as Muslims, we are not allowed to despair. We are called to act morally and ethically, even if we are the only ones in our orbit to do so. I am of the belief that one person with God constitutes the majority. So when we vote for the pro-human and pro-humanity candidate, I believe we are in the majority regardless of who wins the election. This is no small matter. To me, especially in this coming election, this is the start of real change.
* * * * *
Recently, my friend, who is one of the brightest, most ethical and social justice-oriented Muslims I know, texted me asking who we should vote for. She was deep in the quandary.
She had just seen my damning post on Facebook about Kamala - the horrific visual of Israel’s burning alive of Shaaban Al-Dalou superimposed with Kamala’s own words: “I will not put any conditions on Israel.”
Her text message:
“I just saw your post on Kamala. Trump appears far more harsh on Palestinians. I looked at my ballot and I see Kennedy is still on it (as an independent). He calls Israel’s actions a moral war 😡 then he says he’s cutting military budget by 50 percent…We have some tough choices.”
My response:
“I can’t vote for genocide. Full stop. I’m voting for Jill Stein. It’s a long game and it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. My opinion is we need to start building for the future which means creating alternatives to the status quo. If Trump wins, maybe he will make things worse in the short term or maybe it will lead to the destruction of the current system faster. It is a fair consequence for all the evil from the current genocide. Kamala has no interest in doing anything to stop the genocide…”
Her answer:
“Thank you! Joining you!”
I hope you will join us too. May we all stand and be counted together for Principle in the pro-humanity, pro-human majority.
May God help us all. May God forgive us all. And God Knows Best.
I humbly ask my fellow Muslim writers on Substack to share this, if at all helpful. May God bless, protect, and empower us all. Ameen.
[Again, all opinions expressed here are my own. The Usuli Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit public charity and does not endorse any political candidates.]
Thank you for writing out your thought process and sharing your sources. I have had my mail in ballot all filled out except for the presidential candidate vote for weeks as I could not make up my mind of who to vote for, more specifically I was debating between different third parties, but this has pushed me to more clarity and to vote for Jill Stein. Let’s get her over the 5% line so we can start building a future outside of this genocidal duopoly.
Respectfully, Jill Stein has millions invested in Exxon and Chevron. She’s not “green,” and he said himself we’re not going to have elections anymore if he gets back in office. Having a third party helps no one if we are a dictatorship. Bibi and Putin both have endorsed Trump to win, and I find that a compelling reason to make sure he doesn’t.