The White House announced Wednesday the administration will develop a National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia in the United States. “President Biden ran for office to restore the soul of our nation. He is unequivocal: There is no place for hate in America against anyone. Period,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in statement. The strategy, a joint effort led by the Domestic Policy Council and the National Security Council, aims to create a comprehensive and detailed plan to protect Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim “because of their race, national origin, ancestry, or any other reason, from discrimination, hate, bigotry, and violence,” said a White House official. The White House will be partnering with local communities on coming up with the strategy.
“For too long, Muslims in America, and those perceived to be Muslim, such as Arabs and Sikhs, have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fueled attacks and other discriminatory incidents,” Jean-Pierre said. “Moving forward, the President, Vice President, and our entire Administration will continue working to ensure every American has the freedom to live their lives in safety and without fear for how they pray, what they believe, and who they are.”
The initiative comes as Israel’s war with Hamas – which has seen a rising number of civilian deaths in Gaza –- has increased fears of Islamophobia in the United States, and some of the nation’s largest Muslim American groups have denounced Biden’s approach to the conflict.
The president expressed support for a humanitarian pause to allow for the release of hostages in Gaza Wednesday evening, in response to a protester calling for a ceasefire during a closed-door fundraiser. “I understand the emotion,” Biden said, while still stopping short of endorsing a ceasefire. “This is incredibly complicated for the Israelis. It’s incredibly complicated for the Muslim world as well.” Some groups, many of whom led door-to-door voting campaigns for Biden in 2020, have warned that the president’s approach could become a political liability as he seeks reelection. Earlier Wednesday, The Minnesota chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, which organized protests of the president’s events Wednesday, formally said it would withhold support for Biden’s 2024 bid after he failed to endorse a ceasefire.