The Ceasefire Movement is Propelling Young Muslim Organizers into Local Politics
By Sara Swetzoff
May/Jun 2024
From the municipal ceasefire resolution movement to local Democratic party elections to the “vote uncommitted” campaign, young Muslim organizers are bringing together diverse community coalitions to transform democracy in Connecticut. Sara Swetzoff interviewed Ebaa Mohmed (co-founder, the Islamic Association of Central Connecticut Impact Organization; press liaison, Vote Uncommitted CT), a recent candidate for Democratic Town Committee in New Britain’s Ward 3.
Last month I was honored to join your campaign canvassing in New Britain, Conn., ahead of the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) elections. Can you give some background on your slate and why you all decided to run for DTC?
Our slate comprised an amazing group of individuals, including Councilwoman Candy Scott (D). It was a predominantly Muslim slate, primarily focused on a pro-Palestine initiative and seeking to pass a ceasefire resolution in New Britain.
The way we came together happened very quickly. This past January [2024], we presented the ceasefire resolution to our local DTC. We had gathered a large group of New Britain residents and supporters to attend the public meeting. After a tense session, the resolution was tabled.
I was baffled by how easily the politics of it all overshadowed the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis plaguing the Palestinian people. Subsequently, a group of us, including DTC members along with Councilman Nate Simpson (D), convened and decided that we were done being ignored.
This wasn’t the first time we felt our local elected officials had sidelined us, and we knew it wouldn’t be the last. With the two-year DTC term nearing its end and possible primaries in March, we formed our slate.
For readers outside our region, how would you describe New Britain and its communities? What makes New Britain special? What was it like to grow up there?
New Britain has always been home to diverse and rich communities, all intertwined in various ways. Growing up, I learned Spanish from my neighbors while we rode our bikes around town, and in return, I taught them Arabic.
New Britain has one of the largest Arab populations of any town in Connecticut, with the Yemeni community being especially prominent. I’ve come to view New Britain as a city filled with people who may differ in many aspects, but at a fundamental level, we stand united. I have yet to encounter a single constituent who does not support a ceasefire resolution.
New Britain thrives on marginalized communities supporting each other through our shared struggles, and it’s also home to leaders I deeply admire. For instance, Imam Zaid Shakir, co-founder of Zaytuna College, spent his formative years here. Simply knowing that genuine leaders have emerged from our town fills me with hope that we can continue to drive meaningful change forward.
Nationwide, the municipal ceasefire resolution movement has been such a powerful expression of solidarity with Palestine. What was it like to build that local coalition in New Britain?
I was fortunate to find myself among many people who had been fighting for Palestinian liberation long before the start of the genocide. So, in terms of expanding this coalition further, it was about tapping into our communities that aren’t normally heard from.
We did a lot of legwork reaching out to our vast Muslim community, who was already very emotionally involved in the matter but did not know what steps to take to get materially involved. We held educational seminars on voter registration, how the DTC works and how voting for our slate would better reflect New Britain’s values. We received amazing feedback and garnered many allies who are still involved with the movement.
You are also the press liaison for the recently launched “Vote Uncommitted CT” campaign, a project of the Connecticut Palestine Solidarity Coalition’s Political Engagement Committee. Who is in the coalition and what inspired the group to take on this campaign?
The coalition comprises many organizations that are doing amazing work to advocate for a liberated Palestine. Coalition members include Abandon Biden, We Will Return, Connecticut Democratic Socialists of America, New Britain Racial Justice Coalition, Bristol Anti Racism Brigade, Hartford Jewish Organizing Collective, Party for Socialism and Liberation Connecticut, Connecticut Students 4 Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace Action Connecticut and the Islamic Association of Central Connecticut Impact Organization.
We decided to take on this campaign because it is directly tied to the freedom of the Palestinian people. This campaign sends a clear and direct message to the Biden administration that they cannot simply wash their hands of this genocide come November. This protest vote makes it known that we have taken note of the unfulfilled promises made at the start of their campaign and that we will hold them fully accountable while they attempt to cover up their numerous ongoing atrocities.
By the time this interview reaches readers, it will be after the April 2nd primary. Regardless of the outcome, what do you think the Vote Uncommitted CT campaign will have accomplished?
The campaign has already accomplished so much by raising awareness of the genocide, their occupation by Israel and U.S. complicity and funding of it all. By April 2, I am hopeful that we will have garnered over 6,000 uncommitted votes and will have sent a strong message that their voters will not support a candidate who perpetuates the Genocide in Gaza. I’m confident that this message will resonate far beyond this campaign and will contribute to the broader fight for a free Palestine.
Going back to your Democratic Town Committee slate in New Britain: It’s tough to get people out for local primaries at the town level, and this was your slate’s first campaign. You didn’t win any seats on the DTC this year, but nevertheless you grew our movement for local democracy and learned valuable lessons for the future. What were your biggest take-aways?
The number one thing I learned is that all our struggles are interconnected. Even though we didn’t win any seats, I made amazing lifelong allies and I’ve learned from it every step of the way. This fight isn’t a one-and-done. It’s a lifelong battle that needs to be fought by a collective that believes in a better and brighter future where we don’t allow genocides to take place and the human rights of millions of people to be violated every day.
Whether it be via ceasefire resolutions or the Vote Uncommitted campaign, we will always win when we are building the movement. This campaign was my first, but it will not be my last. I’ve learned invaluable lessons regarding running a campaign and all of its inner workings, and I will not stop until the needs of my community and those who have been silenced for decades are rightfully represented.
Thank you so much, Ebaa. Any closing thoughts or advice to share with readers who are thinking of getting more politically involved in their own towns or cities?
I’d like to emphasize that anyone can get politically involved. As someone with no prior political experience, I was very intimidated to throw my hat in the ring at first. But I firmly believe that we must involve more people in politics who aren’t afraid to stand up for the right thing. We need more Muslims, more people of color and more young people to step up and take the reins from those who are currently pushing for genocide and refuse to represent our beliefs.
Anyone can run for a seat in their local election, and I know that if we encourage those who have been marginalized and pushed to the outskirts of our communities, we can build more inclusive, humanity-driven electoral bodies starting at the local level and working our way up. That is one of the major ways we can make change.
Sara Swetzoff is faculty in the Department of Political Science, Philosophy and Geography at Eastern Connecticut State University.
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