PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The war in Gaza is the most divisive issue in the Democratic Party, but Philadelphia Building Trades Council leader Ryan Boyer, who is Muslim, argued that it should not make it difficult to vote for Kamala Harris for president on Nov. 5.
“We have to say Kamala Harris is infinitely better than a Trump regime for Americans, for Muslims, and for Palestinians,” Boyer said.
Trump has urged Israel to “finish up” the war, while Harris has called for a ceasefire and a two-state solution.
The League of Muslim Voters of the Delaware Valley endorsed Harris for president on Monday in a press conference that included Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who, in 2006, was the first Muslim elected to Congress.
“Philadelphia’s Muslim community will play a huge role in the outcome of this election,” Ellison predicted. “We saw it in 2020 and we’ll see it again this year.”
The event was intended to push back on perceived defections from Harris on two fronts. Speakers also condemned the gender bias that’s being blamed for a lack of enthusiasm about Harris among some Black male voters. Some polls suggest it is pushing them toward the Republican Party.
Harris also released on Monday a new economic opportunity plan aimed specifically at Black men. Boyer pointed to the plan calling for a million, fully forgivable loans up to $20,000 for Black entrepreneurs as one reason to be enthusiastic.
“That is vital start-up capital that young entrepreneurs need,” he said. “Anyone in the start-up space says you have to go to your friends and family, but if you have been generationally not having wealth, there are no friends and family around.”
With Pennsylvania projected to be so close come Nov. 5, Philadelphia’s 300,000 Muslims are an important voting bloc for Harris to keep in her camp as the race enters its home stretch.