Most major 2020 candidates not attending first annual Muslim Caucus conference

[left-of-center2012]

Muslim political leaders and academics are set to gather in Washington, DC, on Tuesday for what is being billed as the first national gathering of Muslims in politics in United States history. Organised by the Muslim Caucus, the Muslim Collective for Equitable Democracy 2019 will feature appearances by representatives Omar, as well as a host of other prominent Muslim American figures, including Gold Star father Khizr Khan and Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress and current Minnesota attorney general.

But the organisers are disappointed in the low turnout from major Democratic presidential candidates. Aside from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is slated to attend the two-day conference in person on Tuesday, and Elizabeth Warren, who plans to address the conference via livestream on Wednesday, none of the major primary candidates from the Democratic Party will participate in the event.

Bernie Sanders will submit a pre-recorded message for the conference, but Salam said that actually taking the time to meet and speak with Muslim voters would send a much stronger message of support.

"We reached out to every single Democratic candidate as well as Republican, the one Republican candidate who is running against Trump," said Ghazala Salam, president and founder of the Muslim Caucus Education Collective. "But we did not have any response from their offices. Everyone declined, or responded that they have scheduling conflicts".

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/muslim-caucus-hold-conference-trump-attacks-190722231405411.html

[flor-de-jasmim]

1. That's disappointing news.

[RobertDevereaux]

2. Many more need to step up and support Muslims in this time of attack.

[pangaia]

3. I know schedules are tight, but. I am really disappointed.

[SouthernProgressive]

4. The website has a photo of five candidates with this caption.

"First Muslim Caucus Presidential Forum Democratic 2020 Presidential Candidates Speak With The Muslim Caucus"

I think this starts today. None of the candidates will be in attendance. I was just looking at the group and don't see a reason they shouldn't be there.

https://www.muslimcaucuscollective.org/

The CEO of the DNC, Seema Nanda, will be speaking.