The Post Election Anti-Muslim Hate — From The Left

The anti-Muslim and Islamophobic attacks I've received from Democrats must stop, and we need to stand united against fascism

This is an uncomfortable piece to write, but a necessary one. We know anti-Muslim hate from the right has been here, is rising, and will spike likely to record levels once Trump formally takes office. But right now, post-election, I’m seeing a rising sense of anti-Muslim sentiment among Democrats on the claim that Harris lost due to the American Muslim vote. This is dangerous for a number of reasons and we must counter this hate immediately. The morning after the election I wrote:

Many people are hurting. Many are angry. There is no rush to respond. I say this both to those hurting, and to those looking to point fingers. Already this morning I’ve received notes telling me to “f*ck off” or “enjoy the camps” or “hope you like being deported,” even making genocidal statements about Palestine. And to be sure, these aren’t from MAGAs—but sadly from folks on the left.

Over the past few days these attacks from folks on the left have increased. I’ve received texts from Muslim and Arab friends expressing fear—not just of the eventual and inevitable fascist ban on Muslims—but of the bigotry they are experiencing here and now. I’ve also received many thoughtful notes of support from my white Christian friends expressing love, compassion, solidarity, and asking me to be safe because of the rhetoric they’re hearing in their circles. To those allies I am grateful. But today I want to candidly lay bare this hate to each of you as a reminder of its reality, and how you can be an ally in these difficult times. Let’s Address This.

This anti-Muslim hate is driven by the perception that Americans who are Muslim cost Kamala Harris the election, because they voted for Jill Stein. Apparently, the claim goes, the peaceful protests American Muslims held against Biden for funding genocide in Gaza caused Harris to lose every swing state, and thus the presidency. This claim is, in a word, meritless. Before I provide the receipts on just how meritless this claim is, let me offer a snapshot of what this disinformation is igniting.

In response to my detailed analysis of what the Democratic Party did wrong in this election, this person gloated that “Muslim ban #2 is coming, as are deportation camps”—apparently all due to our critiques of President Biden. Off the bat, if you are offended that a citizen criticizes the President, then it isn’t democracy you support, its blind compliance. As Teddy Roosevelt famously said, “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president.” Apparently some never got that memo, and are upset I dared to criticize the Democratic Party.

What ignited this response? My suggestion that the Democratic Party ignored their base of young voters, which is part of the reason why voters 18-29 shifted 30 points to the right in the 2024 election. The fact is, we cannot and will not win voters back if our self-reflection amounts to “GO F*CK YOURSELF.” Similarly, we will not win back voters if we sensationalize criticism of the Democratic Party as the same thing as rape. Yes, that is a claim some are making in their efforts to rebuke my criticisms.

Apparently, according to Karen, Democrats were raped, and criticizing the party’s strategy this election amounts to rape shaming. Yes, it is as absurd and as offensive as it sounds, but this is again a snapshot of the rhetoric I’ve received post-election. And yet, the rhetoric is only getting worse—including calls to genocide.

This person openly called to “flatten Palestine,” which is a call to mass murder and genocide. Imagine being so angry at a fellow citizen criticizing unjust foreign policy, that your response is to wage all out genocide against innocent and unarmed people? Again, how does this distinguish from MAGA Republicans and the violent rhetoric we often see from the right? Especially when the above genocidal rhetoric is coupled with ongoing declarations of being victimized by American Muslims, and wishing violence upon American Muslims. See the next example.

“I hope you all get what was promised” is also an implicit acknowledgement that the Trump and Netanyahu regimes promise genocide, concentration camps, and ethnic cleansing—and far from condemning this horror—it is now being “hoped” upon American Muslims. This is a theme in many of the comments I’ve received, taunting me to “enjoy what you voted for.” Obviously, I did not and would never vote for Trump, and have actively worked for a decade against his fascism, including donating thousands of dollars of my own income to Democratic candidates running against Trump candidates. But it seems none of that matters anymore—I should “enjoy what I voted for.”

And again.

And again.

And again, with subtle racism.

And again, with overt racism for good measure.

And finally, before I bring up the receipts of what actually transpired this election, another common theme of the hateful attacks American Muslims are receiving post-election is that “we stood with you [Muslims], and you abandoned us.”

Never mind that the final piece I wrote before the election was to implore people to vote against Trump so that the ACA care my daughter needs to live is not taken away. Again, apparently none of that matters to these critics. And if they are willing to pause the hate and look at facts, they’ll see the facts completely undermine their meritless and violent claims against American Muslims.

The Facts of Jill Stein’s Negligible Impact

The facts are explicitly clear that American Muslims did not cost Harris the Presidency. In reality, Jill Stein only won between 0.4% and 0.9% of the vote in the 38 states in which her name appeared on the ballot. The largest chunk of votes she received in any given state was in the very blue state of New Jersey, earning 0.9% or 34,953 votes. But what about in the Blue Wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin?

Again, while Stein’s absence could have made the race closer in swing states, her presence and support from some American Muslims did not enable Harris’s loss or Trump’s win. Consider the facts:

• Harris lost PA by 38,000 votes—where Stein only received 33,000 votes.

• Harris lost MI by 80,000 votes—where Stein only received 44,000 votes.

• Harris lost WI by 30,000 votes—where Stein only received 12,000 votes.

In fact, RFK and the Libertarian candidate each received somewhat similar votes as did Stein in each of those states, with RFK alone receiving more votes than did Stein in Wisconsin.

Moreover, the best data available on the voting breakdown by religion suggests that American Muslims (who would fall into the “Something else” category below) voted somewhere around 59% for Kamala Harris. And given the largest demographic of Muslims in America are Black Muslims, and Black Americans voted close to 90% for Kamala Harris, it would be unsurprising if American Muslims voted Democratic even higher than 59%. Far from abandoning Harris or American democracy, American Muslims were on the front lines of fighting MAGA fascism.

Finally, remember that American Muslims are not a massive block of voters across swing states, and amount to less than 1%. Still, in 2020 they came out strong for Joe Biden and helped him get across the finish line. And in 2024, the nation’s largest Muslim civic organization, Emgage, endorsed Kamala Harris and worked hard to register 1 million American Muslims to vote. Likewise, the Muslims for Harris coalition activated across swing states, holding events, raising money, and knocking doors. Those American Muslims who exercised their constitutional right to protest against a genocide funded by US tax dollars had every right to do so—a fact the eventual Harris/Walz ticket openly endorsed. Way back in early March, Governor Tim Walz shared his view of the Uncommitted Movement by stating:

These folks are asking for a change in course. They’re asking for more pressure to be put on. They’re civically engaged. People are frustrated, but it bodes well for me that they’re actively engaged to go out and cast his vote and ask for change.

The point is, attacking American Muslims for their crime of being civically engaged is not how we strengthen our democracy, it is how we undermine our unity. Unity for the sake of justice is how we must move forward if we have any hope of stopping Trump’s fascism and the forthcoming onslaught of Project 2025.

The Need for Unity Against Hate

As I implored in my election breakdown:

Today, the Democratic Party has two very distinct paths ahead of it. It can either blame everyone else as racist, embrace war criminals like Dick Cheney, and hold loaded primaries, thereby ensuring a repeat of this election’s failures in the future. Or, the Democratic Party can look inwardly and actually listen to its base and future—young voters, Black voters, Asian and Muslim voters, and Latino voters—and ensure success on the local, state, and federal level for a generation or more.

This will always hold true, if we truly intend to become a big tent party that listens to its base. Those quick to attack American Muslims for peacefully exercising their constitutional right to dissent should reflect on how that differentiates from MAGA Republicans who demand absolute loyalty in all matters? The election is over, the results are what they are, and now we have a choice before us. Continue to attack a historically marginalized community that will sadly continue to suffer marginalization, or reflect on what we could have done better as a party, and build a better party and country going forward. I know I am choosing the latter. And I am confident most people reading this will as well.

Finally, ally-ship is not just about recognizing hate. It is also in actively calling hate out by being anti-hate, anti-racist, and anti-fascist, and by investing in doing the work to uphold and advance justice. By investing your resources in those standing on the front lines. Many of us have done this for years, and the moment calls to redouble our efforts. Let us continue to build our coalition for justice and stand united against the divisiveness that the Trump administration is counting on to advance their agenda. The next four years will be unimaginably difficult, but we can and will get through it, if we stand together.

A Final Note

With your support—I have built this Let’s Address This community to now more than 78,000 thoughtful people on the promise to speak truth to power and uphold justice in all matters. If you’re reading this, you are a member of that community, and I am grateful to you for choosing to partake. So, my ask is that if you are in a position to become a paid subscriber as we build into this next year, now is a crucial time to join this movement.

Thank you for the trust you have in me. My commitment is to reciprocate that trust with consistent, thoughtful, fact-based analysis and insights on the key human rights and civil rights issues that impact us all.