Thread by @keithellison

Some of you may be considering sitting this election out, or voting for a third-party candidate, because you strongly disagree with Kamala Harris about Gaza.

This thread is for you 🧵

We have many things in common. Like you, I am outraged by the suffering in Gaza: the massive and indiscriminate loss of life, the displacement of millions of people, the deliberate destruction of hospitals, the use of food as a weapon, the list is heartbreakingly long.

Every nation, including Israel, has the right to defend itself, and all hostages must be released now. But no nation, including Israel, has the right to collectively punish another people, including the people of Gaza. Like you, I believe the US has not done enough to stop it.

Now to Kamala Harris.

She’s for a cease fire. She’s for more humanitarian aid now. She stands for international human-rights laws. She’s publicly called out Rudy Giuliani’s violent rhetoric about Palestinian children at Trump’s racist Madison Square Garden rally.

And as she said on Tuesday night at the very site of Trump’s January 6 insurrection speech, she will listen to everyone, including people who disagree with her. I’ve known her for years, so I know from personal experience that this is true. I vouch for her.

On the other hand, Trump, who put in place the illegal Muslim ban, has said he’ll let Netanyahu “finish the job.” Trump, whose own chief of staff says he is a fascist, has promised to deploy the military against constitutional protest and be a dictator on Day One.

So if like me, you care about the people of Gaza—and the right to protest about Gaza—you don’t want Trump in power. But THIS IS THE CRITICAL PART: if you sit this election out or vote for a third party that will not win, you are letting Trump get one vote closer to power.

Donald Trump will increase suffering in Gaza and the world—period. Kamala Harris will use the presidency to alleviate suffering at home and abroad. Just as importantly, she is someone we can be in dialogue with, *not* someone who will turn our country against us.

Don’t take only it from me. Bernie Sanders supports Kamala Harris even though he strongly disagrees with current Gaza policy, because he believes that Kamala in the White House is the best chance to change that policy.

https://x.com/berniesanders/status/1851040553745432775?s=42

Georgia State Rep. Ruwa Romman supports Kamala Harris for the same reason: Kamala’s is our best chance for change and the people she represents “cannot survive another Trump presidency.” rollingstone.com/politics/polit…

Nada Elmikashfi, a Wisconsin Muslim political organizer, supports Kamala Harris because it’s the only way to keep Trump from making everything she cares about worse and harming far more communities than her own.

https://x.com/nadaelmikashfi/status/1851465420097585482?s=10

And former President Jimmy Carter, who has worked tirelessly for more than 40 years for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East that includes dignity, opportunity, and self-determination for Palestinians, supports Kamala Harris.

And even as Gaza is first in many of our thoughts, yet more is at stake. Racial justice, abortion rights, climate change, economic fairness, and the very soul of our country: all are on the ballot. Trump’s racist Madison Square Garden rally leaves no more room for doubt.

For the sake of all the people that would bear the brunt of Trump’s deliberate cruelty, and for the best chance of building a better future for the people of Gaza and the world, I’m asking you not to sit this out: I’m asking for your vote for Kamala Harris for President.