Election on Nov 3, 2020
Muslim American Political Struggle of 2000-2020: Dr. MD Rabbi Alam. Friends: Election is a democratic process to take on responsibilities in office. Once you run for that race you know the outcomes are either victory or defeat. Understanding the facts that one can’t have both outcomes. So whether you win or lose you have to be actively participating and taking on the challenges. As Independent you have uphill battles. But in America sometimes you have to be on your own if the situation allows and permits.
I am no less Democrat than even our Former Vice President Joe Biden our President Candiadte or even Independent Bernie Sanders. It’s a platform. Now if you don’t understand the Qualifying Petitions situations then I can explain to those who want to know.
I travelled 27 states with our former President Barack Obama, I was a DNC Caucasus Chair and I was the National Convener for the National Democratic Party Asian American Caucus in 2010. I founded the Missouri Democratic Party Asian American Caucus.
In 2013, on 9/11, I organized a Million Muslim March in DC at the National Mall and We were heavily dehumanized by Fox News and right wings specially Sean Hanity, Bill O’Reilly, Fox & Friends, Morning Joe, Judge @Jenneine Pirro, Alex Jones’ Dank Meme Stash, Washington Free Beacon, Daniel Pipes, Bridget Gabriel and many others. I can go on. Anyway, folks, In 2012, I ran for Missouri Secretary of State and I was brutally attacked by very Fox and right wingers. Even I was attacked by the IDL – International Defamation League – defamed me as I was “Obama’s Muslim Terrorist” – I fought it hard and we survived. Fox predicted I would get only 500 votes, finally I bagged 50,000 some votes. The point I am making here, In America Muslim now seems a easy platform than 20 years ago. Now, after truly Obama, Hillary and Bernie movement now we have created our Allies in political field. But never forget what we had to do early 2000, specially after 9/11. It was never easy, it was never like this what you see after 20 years of hardship, challenges and titled being distributed as “Villains and Terrorists” synonyms with a Muslim Names such as Mohammed, Abdul and or Alam. Also if you have beard unlikely, a Shaikh with long beard got shoot and brutally killed as portraying a Muslim by right-wings home grown terrorist.
In 2000, 80% Muslims delivered for the Bushes and handed the presidency yet, even, we the Muslim leaders were rejected by the Democrats and just some of us stood with former Vice President Al Gore and Joe Liverman. It was a very challenging moment for Muslim American (not the Black Muslim – ie Nation of Islam and the Mosque Care). Also FYI, the #abortion (Pro-Life or Pro-Choice) issues on the ballot. No shame the vast majority Muslim American stood with the Pro-Life and supported the GOP alongside the same very right wings.
During the 2000’s Presidential across 50 states the following Muslims leaders who were politically active within the participation were Dr. Syed Agha Saied of CA, Dr. Malik Mujaheed of Chicago, Dr. James B Zogbay of DC, Dr. Kevin Barrett of Madison WI, Dr. Shofder Chowdhury of St. Louis Chicago Side, Anwar K Khan of Kansas City, MO, Dr. A J Durhani of Dallas TX, Imam Wallie Karim of Chicago, Ishaq Beg of Atlanta, Georgia, Ako Abdul-Samad of Iowa, Envir Mashoud of Fairfax Virginia, Dr. Mohammed Quashem of Silverspring Maryland, Sheikh Adnan Bayzid, Syed Asif, Derron Black, Shere Alam of Kansas City, Missouri, Sherbaz Khan of Irving Texas, Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah of New Jersey, Maf Misbah Uddin of New York, Giash Ahmed of New York, Murshed Ahmed of New York, Ghazzala Salam of Florida, Dr. Talat Khan of CA, @Salim Akther of Chicago, Journalist @Ruby Al-Sous of Kansas City. Still then no one knew who Keith Ellison was. Keith Ellison came in picture after 2006 wining his Congressional bid with Somalian Muslim Community in Minneapolis St Paul Minnesota. Remember Keith Ellison was the first Muslim to win any congressional seat in USA.
No one knew who Rashida Tlaib was yet, @Jamila Nasheed of St. Louis was elected in the Missouri House and AKO Abdous Samad was elected at IOWA house of Representative. No one even knew or thought who Dr. Abdul El-Sayed would be because he came in picture in 2018.
In the 2000 Election Muslim denied access to the Democratic Party and platforms even denied meetings with top Democratic candidates that why in a core collation Muslim American allied with the Bushes’ of Florida. Don’t give me wrong, I witnessed and experienced all these in past 20 years. I heavily experienced the Disavowed from the Democratic Party and now you all think it was easy to proclaim a Muslim Leader in America.
In 2001, the Muslim Leadership had a secret slavery with the Republican Party while Democrats showed their back on us. During the 9/11 attack on Twin Tower Muslim American were vilinized and discriminated and no one really truly stood for the solidarity of our communities. I spoke against the 9/11 Plot and it was a hoax after 19 years we all know about it. Calling Global Muslim Communities as a Terrorist community was a NORM for the west. Yet, Obama who faced brutal backfires from Trump with his Birther movement. All it changed when Obama tapped many Muslims including me and put in his campaign. I worked as a Campaign Manager in Mid-west in Kansas-Missouri-Nebraska belt. Now the question is what is look like to be a Muslim Political Leader in America?
In 2004 Sen John Kerry and Senator John Edwards, I stood with Sentor Kerry and we had Splitter and walked away from the GOP leaded movement of political slavery to the real activism in the political process. We were discriminated by our own Imams, Non-profit leaders and our own Muslims Community because of fear of prosecution and it was the most hardest battle we had to educate our own community to be invoked in Political movement and activism. I want to acknowledge that “Professor Sami Al-Arian” a Muslim educator and a Professor of Green Bay was arrested with 9/11 conspiracy and was thrown in the jail without any proceeding yet no Muslims in America stood for his civil rights action. After Obama came in Office the AMA, MLF of America, the CAIR and few other organizations started the process of Sami Al-Arian case.
In 2001, the 9/11 terror attack and in 2015 with the 9/11 Commission Report of 28 deducted pages questioned the integrity and official story of 9/11. Yes, I stood for the 2.7 Million Muslims in America, I questioned about the official report of 9/11 and the next thing I knew that I was brutally attacked by right wings with Death Threatened, physical assault and finally media attacks. Fox and right wings called me “Obama’s Terrorist”, titled me “Secretary of Truth” and also miscoded as “Anti-Semitic” even I cleared the relationship between the #AIPAC, Zionism and Zionist Movement vs the Religion of Jew and Jewish people. In 2005, I was involved in Interfaith Movement yet I was labeled as an Anti-Semitic by very ADF – Anti-Defamation League with Defamation and personal discrimination against me and my family.
In 2015, I was tapped in and was introduced in Bernie Sanders Campaign by my good friend from US Congressman and DNC Deputy Chair Keith Ellison and I served as the National Chair “Muslims for Bernie” in 2016. Folks, do you recall after the DNC Convention once Bernie conceded to Hillary Clinton, Keith Ellison endorsed Hillary alongside with Bernie Sanders himself.
After the 2016, DNC Convention, Bill Clinton offered me to organize the Hillary Campaign and I assumed the role of “Muslims4HillaryClinton” and it was just more than a position to elect Hillary Clinton Against Trump. During the 2016 campaign I travelled 11 states and organized Rally for Hillary Clinton as well as I worked very closely with Senator Bernie Sanders to elects Hillary Clinton.
Now, it’s 2020. Many young Muslims has positions in Political campaign. In 2018 Rashida Talib was elected in Michigan to represent 13th Congressional District, concurrently Ilhan Omar was tapped in to fill the vacated seat of Rep. Keith Ellison while he was elected in the Minnesota as the Attorney General.
In 2018, in Michigan young man Muslim American Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Indian American Shri Thanedar came in power play backed by Bernie for Abdul and Self-financed for Shri which changed the Michigan Politics in a Progressive and positive in nature. While Abdul was in the Ballot, there was a 24 years old unknown Yemeni American Abraham Aiyash was in the 2018 Michigan Democratic Ballot for Michigan Senate and credited votes by Abdul El-Sayed. Technically today Abraham Aiyash is nothing but a shadow of Abdul El Sayed. May be Abdul Al-Sayed will never be elected yet, Aiyash collected all Yemeni votes and Progressive votes backed by Abdul was endorsed by Bernie. Now, a young man Aiyash is set to became a State Rep from Michigan 4th House District On Nov 3, 2020.
Questions to all Muslims American specially in Michigan Who is Abraham Aiyash anyway?
I am Dr. MD Rabbi Alam, don’t forget to google search my name and you will see as a Muslim American Leader Ayash is not even 5% v 95%, yet locally for unforeseen reason a favorite man running as a Democrat.
In 2018, Another Yemeni American young man Saad Almasmari Who was 2nd top in the 2018 Michigan State Rep Election for District 4 Against R.I.P. Isaac Robinson and at the same time Abraham Aiyash was defeated by Michigan Current Senator Adam Hollier with 5766 votes and (in 2020 Aiyash MI HD 4 State Rep 5352 votes), took away the opportunity from Saad Al-Masmari.
People do not realize and understand what is behind the true success, in this case Abraham Ayash got a free pass by suppressing Saad Al-Masmari a contender of Yemeni American Community of Hamtarmck, Michigan.
In 2018, I also ran in that MI HD 4 and being new in a State was defeated where two Bangladeshi American was in the Ballot. Both me and Syed Rob was defeated and Isaac Robinson had the victory. The seat was vacated by term limit and Isaac’ mother Rosemary Robinson served before Isaac took in 2019. Unfortunate event of Covid19 took Isaac’s life and he died on 3-28-2020, and untimely passing created the seat open and now the seat is facing 4 way election on November 3, 2020.
I was a Democratic Primary candidate for August 7, 2020. However, I was requested by Rosemary Robinson to withdraw from the Primary as initial plan of Sarah Robinson, Isaac’s Sister tentative run for her brothers vacated-seat. As per my conversation with former Rep and mother of both Isaac and Sarah Robinson, I removed myself from the Primary. Noted, that on Feb, 2, 2019, at the MDP – Michigan Democratic Party Convention at the Cobo Hall, I was elected as an Statutory Board Member of 14th Congressional District of Rep. Brenda Lawrence and currently serving as a Vice Chair of the MDP CD14 Official Committee.
At the end, Shara Robinson never filed to run and, I was denied my chance to be endorsed by the MDP CD 14 as a current sitting Vice Chair, now, I ask you all to consider me as I am back in the Ballot as an Independent. Like many in history, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Brenda Jones of Michigan and Even Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan tried on an Independent Platform.
As because I am now running as an Independent, that does not make me any less Democrat that any other candidates in the Ballot.
My pledge to you Michiganders and Specially Democrats and Hamtrmck, Detroit Muslim Community – you have to chose the best one among two Muslims in the Race. Abraham Aiyash or Dr. MD Rabbi ALAM. I request you to consider the one who will serve you the best.
Here, I am a VETERAN. I am a Former US Army Sergeant. I am a Veteran of Iraq War and Afghan War, I am a Former DNC Caucus Chair, I Organized the Million Muslim March, I am currently serving as a Vice Chair of MDP CD14. I organized and collected over 250 K signatures to impeach Donald Trump. I am asking your vote and allow me to serve you.
Finally, I fought for my County, I will fight again if needed. I have served my country and I will serve again if needed. I served those people and my country because, I live my County and I love you. I want to serve you again that’s why I am running again. Please vote for me on November 3, 2020 as an Independent and would be proud to serve you with Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. Please give me a chance that I can be come your next State Representative from Michigan 4th House District On 11-3-2020.
NOTE: yes, I am Muslim, Yes I am a Veteran, Yes I am Democrat and yes, I have long beard and purposefully I grew my beard to give leverage of Muslim American as who we are but not hiding and challenging the identity. Yes, I was marching in Ferguson for Michael Brown, Yes, I was marching in Florida fro Trevan Martin, Yes, I was marching in Baltimore Maryland for Freddie Gray
and Yes I marched and leaded Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, US Senator Gary Peters and US Congresswoman Rep. Brenda Lawrence for George Floyd in Detroit. I am always an active for BLM form the very beginnings. As a Muslim American I will serve you with pride and dignity.
Thank you.
Dr. Rabbi ALAM
Candiadte, State Representative
Michigan District 4
7-16-2020.
