by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman
December 17, 2023
Black voters, especially younger ones, are hesitant to support Biden due to the government’s lack of action for a ceasefire in Palestine.
Young voters are rethinking their vote for Biden in the 2024 Presidential election due to his lack of support for Palestine. The shift comes amongst a growing trend of Black Americans showcasing their solidarity for the Palestinian people as they are impacted by the Israeli-Hamas War.
Despite calls from many of the younger generation demanding the Biden administration do more to enact a ceasefire and stop the growing violence, the president’s failure to do so has voters hesitant to vote for him again. One 2020 voter, Demetrius Briscoe, spoke to USA Today about how the issue has impacted his vote thus far.
“He’s really putting a stain on his presidency that I don’t think will be easily washed away,” shared Briscoe, who is a senior at Bowie State University, an HBCU in Maryland. “If the Democrats call for a cease-fire it may save the Democratic Party from, I think, a wave of young people not voting for them.’’
Across U.S. cities and college campuses, young voters, especially of color, have vocalized their concerns through protests, urging the government do more to stop the ongoing suffering of the Palestinians. A professor at Howard University believes that this “blind loyalty” to the Democratic party is rightfully being tested.
“Young people are finally seeing the impact of America’s war machine,” shared Kesha Middlemass, who teaches political science at the D.C.-based school. “That’s what students are so fearful of ‒ is this blind loyalty without consideration of the rights of Palestinians to exist?”
The revelation comes as many younger Black Americans have historically, and increasingly, stood in solidarity with Palestine. According to the Associated Press, this demographic is recognizing the Palestinian plight for freedom as similar to their own. In light of the protests against police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, Black Americans are leaning their support away from Israel, which has been backed by the United States since its modern inception.
With more Black people jaded by Biden and the Democratic party given their inaction on this matter, it spells trouble for an already troublesome election year ahead.
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