True Left

Joe Biden's campaign disavowed Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour after she spoke at the Democratic National Committee Muslims and Allies virtual assembly. She appeared at the online meeting of Muslims who will be campaigning for Biden for president.

Biden's campaign spokesman, Andrew Bates, said in a statement to CNN that Biden and the Democratic platform condemns Sarsour's views and opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Sarsour has been involved in multiple controversies over her activism related to Israel.

Sarsour said the rebuke from the Biden camp was "unprovoked".

Sarasour is a Democratic delegate, was a Bernie Sanders surrogate, is a prominent voice in the Muslim community and is connected to the criminal justice reform movement.

Was this an unforced error by the Biden campaign?

'She has no role in the Biden campaign whatsoever,' spokesman says

The Biden camp moved to distance itself from Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour after she spoke at a Tuesday meeting of Democratic National Convention delegates, saying she had “no role in the campaign whatsoever.”

Ms. Sarsour spoke at a meeting advertised on the DNC website as “Muslim Delegates Assembly/Caucus and Council Meeting,” but a Democrat official said the gathering was not run by the DNC or Biden campaign.

A former co-leader of the Women’s March, Ms. Sarsour is known for her advocacy of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, as well as her support for convicted Palestinian terrorist Rasmea Odeh and appearance at a 2015 rally organized by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

Biden spokesman Andrew Bates emphasized that the former vice president opposes the BDS movement, which urges consumers and companies to stop doing business with Israel.

“Joe Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel and a vehement opponent of anti-Semitism his entire life, and he obviously condemns her views and opposes BDS, as does the Democratic platform,” said Mr. Bates in an email. “She has no role in the Biden campaign whatsoever.”
Ms. Sarsour swung back by tweeting, “just came here to remind you that you need a coalition to defeat Donald Trump and that Muslim Americans are an important voter bloc in key states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania & I know a little something about how to organize them.”

"President-elect Biden assured our movement he understands the urgency of this crisis; now, it's time for him to act like it."

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The link between Biden's Pentagon advisers and the arms industry

Do I think Biden will invade Israel? Of course not.