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Transcript/Script English((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US Islamophobia Strategy TV
HEADLINE: To Combat US Islamophobia, Biden Must Call Cease-fire in Gaza, US Muslim Groups Say
TEASER: Administration developing plan to combat hate against American Muslims amid their outrage over US support of Israel's retaliatory strikes against Hamas in Gaza
PUBLISHED: Thursday, November 2, 2023 11:22 p.m.
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
DATELINE: White House
CONTRIBUTER:
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Jepsen, DJ (bal), Holly Franko
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Skype, Zoom
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:16
VID APPROVED BY: Steve Hirsch
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES: Radio track included. There is a web.))
((INTRO:))
[[American Muslim groups say that the Biden administration’s efforts to combat rising Islamophobia in the United States must go hand in hand with the protection of civilians in Gaza from Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Hamas that have killed thousands of Palestinians. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has this report.]]
((NARRATOR))
Incidents of Islamophobia are on the rise following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, including the killing of a Palestinian American boy last month, allegedly in a hate crime.
((Radio: Mahmoud Yousef, the boy’s great uncle))
((Mahmoud Yousef, Great-Uncle of Wadea Al-Fayoume))
“A 71-year-old man, sitting on top of a 6-year-old kid stabbing him more than 26 times.”
((NARRATOR))
As the war in Gaza intensifies, Islamophobia and antisemitism in the U.S. have increased.
((NARRATOR))
The administration released its national strategy to counter antisemitism in May.
It said it has long worked on a strategy to counter Islamophobia.
((Radio: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre))
((Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary))
“This is an administration that's taken action not just the last couple of weeks, or the last couple of months, but started this process back in December of last year.”
((Radio: deputy executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, via Zoom))
((Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Council on American-Islamic Relations)) ((Zoom))
“It is important for the White House to develop a plan to combat Islamophobia. But that plan must begin, first and foremost, with calling for an end to the Israeli government's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. That violence in Gaza is what is fueling unrest and bigotry around the world, including the targeting of Muslim Palestinian Americans.”
((NARRATOR))
((UPSOUND "Let Gaza live. Let Gaza live."))
The White House denies that the announcement of its Islamophobia initiative was done to placate Muslims angry at President Joe Biden’s unwavering support for Israel.
((Radio: National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby))
((John Kirby, National Security Council))
“This strategy is born from a genuine desire to go after the kind of hate in America that could lead to real threats of violence against real people.”
((NARRATOR))
Some Muslims have threatened to mobilize votes against Biden in the 2024 presidential election.
((Radio: Jaylani Hussein, Muslim Community Leader))
((Jaylani Hussein, Muslim Community Leader))
“You stand for war and because of that, we have abandoned you in your war. And we stand for the children of Gaza. Abandon Biden.”
((NARRATOR))
Many Muslim groups believe Biden and his Democratic Party have taken their vote for granted.
((Radio: Salam Al-Marayati, president of the advocacy group Muslim Public Affairs Council, via Skype))
((Salam Al-Marayati, Muslim Public Affairs Council)) ((courtesy Skype))
“There are different ways we can address that problem. I don't see us allowing a Trump presidency, for example, to be the answer.”
((NARRATOR))
Former President Trump, the front-runner in the Republican primary field, said last month that if reelected...
...he will send officers to pro-Palestinian rallies to arrest and deport immigrants who publicly support Hamas, and reinstate travel bans from “terror-plagued countries.”
((Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, at the White House))
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateNovember 3, 2023 00:00 EDT
BylinePatsy Widakuswara
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
