Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has promised to include American Muslims in all social and political aspects of his administration, as well as to repeal President Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban” if he is voted in power.
In a video message to Muslim Advocates, a civil rights organization, on Thursday, Biden also vowed to pressure lawmakers to enact legislation to combat the growing increase in hate crimes in the US.
“As President, I will work with you to pluck the poison of hatred from our society to honor your contributions and pursue your ideas. My administration will resemble the United States, with American Muslims serving at all levels, ”he said. “On the first day, I will end Trump’s unconstitutional ban on Muslims. I will lobby Congress to pass hate crime legislation. I will implement the national strategy that I have presented since March to defeat Covid. I will end the deadly inequities in health care, education, and opportunity that this crisis has amplified. And together, we will rebuild the criminal justice system focused on redemption, not retribution, ”added Biden.
President Trump has imposed a controversial travel ban, which critics often refer to as a “Muslim ban,” in several Muslim-majority countries, including Iran and Syria, through a series of executive orders. In February, the travel ban was expanded to include six more countries, including Nigeria.
Noting that the voices of American Muslims are important to the community and to the country, Biden said that the community has not always gained the respect or representation they deserve under the Trump administration. “This is not what we are. Abraham Lincoln told us at Gettysburg that a divided house cannot stand. Today, confidence is waning. Hope seems elusive. Instead of being healed, we are being torn apart. And I refuse to allow that to happen. We have two brighter futures to wreck on the shores of anger and division, ”he said.
“I said it from the beginning. I lead the country of America to embrace hope, not fear, light, not darkness, the future, not the past, and I will appeal to the best of us, not our worst side. I mean, all of you know better than anyone that it is in our power to change course, organize, defend and vote ”.
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