Emgage Action, a Muslim advocacy group, is alarmed by Kevin McCarthy's pledge to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee if he is elected Speaker of the House. McCarthy's vile pledge is rooted in racism and Islamophobia that never accepted a Black Muslim woman in Congress.
Muslim American elected officials are often lobbed with wrongful accusations of being anti-semitic and anti-American; this is an intimidation tactic meant to dissuade Muslim Americans from participating in civic life. At a time when a historic number of Muslim Americans are running for office to protect our democracy, McCarthy initially denied the results of the 2020 presidential elections and voted against forming a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan 6 attack.
Rep. Omar is a steadfast champion of justice and equality for all. Her lived experiences and abilities make her a necessary member of the Foreign Affairs committee. As a former U.S. diplomat, I can attest to the need for greater representation from communities of color in our foreing policy decision-making. The justification provided by Kevin McCarthy against Rep. Omar is a red herring. This is a personal vendetta that is grounded in racism. To support our work in supporting our Muslim American elected officials, please consider donating to Emgage today. |
Sincerely, Wa'el Alzayat CEO of Emgage |
