I know voting can feel inadequate. But it’s our best way to build power for Muslims.
Salaam,
My name is Zeynep Emanet, and I manage the Civic Engagement programs at CAIR Philadelphia. Every election season, we register Muslims to vote, phone bank Muslim and BIPOC voters across Pennsylvania, and knock on doors in Philadelphia, Lehigh, and Delaware Counties. Voting is one of the most powerful tools we have to build political strength for Muslim Americans and make sure our voices are heard. The more we vote, the more our elected officials are forced to listen and be held accountable.
However, I know that voting is a complicated issue for our community, especially when politicians do not represent our values. Last summer, while registering voters outside masjids in West Philadelphia, I heard responses ranging from, ‘I refuse to register to vote or engage in this election’ to ‘I don’t like any of the candidates.’ Many expressed frustration with a political system that often feels disconnected from their values, their disillusionment with American politics and refusal to vote for politicians whose foreign policy decisions determined Muslim lives abroad. During the Primary Election in April, I could remind folks about the importance of voting our conscience, but that got harder in the General Election. I encouraged them to vote for state representatives and down-ballot candidates, whose decisions impact our daily lives—but I could see that many were disengaged and lost all hope for the system.
At a CAIR Philadelphia staff meeting, I asked our civil rights attorney, Timothy Welbeck, how he’d respond to the disillusionment our community felt ahead of the election. He reminded me, “I descended from people who were told that they could not vote and denied the right to vote…The right to vote is one that was purchased in blood. Medgar Evers was assassinated in his driveway in part because of his voter registration efforts. Fannie Lou Hamer was beaten within an inch of her life for her voter registration efforts and many other countless unsung heroes and heroines also risked life and limb for an opportunity for people to vote.”
It’s this legacy of struggle that keeps me motivated. I know that voting is the surest way to build real, long-lasting power for our Muslim communities. In the past year, it’s become devastatingly clear that we don’t yet have enough power to make our representatives listen. Individually, we may feel like trees standing alone in the forest, rustling quietly. But together, we create a powerful wind that can shift the political arc in our favor. We can’t give up on voting. We must lean into this power for the sake of all Muslims, locally and globally. American politics is more than just voting on Election Day. As Americans, we hold power that impacts lives across the globe. Our civic engagement doesn’t stop at the ballot box; we must stand up for justice—from Philadelphia to Palestine—every day. We have to be a people that engage in political action at all levels – from the ballot box to speaking with politicians during Muslim Advocacy Day to taking the streets in protests.
When you support CAIR-Philadelphia, you’re helping to create the infrastructure we need for this effort. CAIR speaks to our community members at their homes and mosques, on their phones, and at community events to spread our vision of justice and mutual understanding powered by a vibrant Muslim vote. This year, we called 129,213 phones and knocked on 49,216 doors with the help of 241 canvassers. We are one of the largest Muslim organizations conducting nonpartisan canvassing; we are not bought by any party or candidate. We are empowered by your support.
Can we count on you to help us continue to build Muslim power?
Sincerely,
Zeynep Emanet
Civic Engagement Manager, CAIR-Philadelphia
