Joint Statement: Regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s racist comments toward Palestinians and Arabs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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IMEU Policy Project, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and MPower Action Fund released the following statement today regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s racist comments toward Palestinians and Arabs
“Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim voters, and millions of young people, people of color, and progressive voters that Democrats need in November, have not forgotten that there is a genocide being carried out now in Gaza by the Israeli military, using bombs provided by the Biden administration.
Biden’s withdrawal from the race was an opportunity for Democratic leadership to begin taking steps to close this disastrous chapter, and to show they are listening to the millions of Americans who want change.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is not the right candidate for the job, and selecting him would be a step in the wrong direction. His virulently racist comments calling Palestinians “battle-minded” and Arabs “belligerent,” while made decades ago, have reignited the grief and isolation Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Democrats feel in the current Democratic Party. He volunteered with the Israeli military at a time when human rights abuses against Palestinians were being widely reported, with Israel’s Defense Minister ordering soldiers to break Palestinian bones.
His record as Governor and Pennsylvania Attorney General of attacking First Amendment rights in order to suppress speech in support of Palestinian freedom go against what the Democratic Party must stand for going forward. As Governor he provocatively and recklessly drew comparisons between students opposing a genocide that at the time had killed over 30,000 Palestinians including over 12,000 children to members of the KKK. Unlike the vast majority of Democrats who want a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Shapiro has not yet called for one.
As Attorney General in 2021, he went after Ben & Jerry’s because the company refused to conduct business in Israel's illegal and segregated settlements built on Palestinian land. As Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chairman, he appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and celebrated Netanyahu’s Pennsylvania upbringing as Israel imposed a crushing siege and blockade on Gaza, which was deemed illegal by United Nations experts.
This is a critical election, and the Democratic Party must listen to what their voters are clearly telling them. Vice President Harris should break from the Biden administration’s choice to unconditionally support Israel’s war crimes, and join with the majority of Democrats who are demanding a halt of weapons shipments to Israel.
The Harris campaign must consider the pain and grief so many Americans are feeling today, and not reopen those wounds in her selection for the vice presidential nominee. Governor Shapiro's anti-Palestinian record will only further alienate Democratic voters. There are simply better options to help move our nation forward.”
ABOUT USCPR ACTION
The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action (USCPR Action) is a diverse movement of Palestinians and their allies who advocate for Palestinian rights and a transformation of U.S. policy on Palestine. That means ending U.S. military funding to apartheid Israel, once and for all, and advocating for justice and freedom for all people. USCPR Action is a project of Tides Advocacy, a 501(c)(4) organization. This partnership allows USCPR Action to expand its advocacy and political work, by advocating for legislation, endorsing political candidates, holding elected officials accountable, and building power across movements. USCPR Action will work to advance Palestinian rights as a non-negotiable part of the progressive agenda in the U.S., and build unprecedented support for Palestinian rights in Congress.