Castro, Sanders court Muslim vote in Houston

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

Asked afterward about the light attendance by the 2020 field, Castro would only discuss why he was there, telling reporters he wants to be a president for all Americans and that Muslim Americans are too often "other-ized." Castro commended Sanders, who was standing nearby, "for being here and I know that he has a track record of speaking out on many of the issues that we addressed today."

Sanders, the independent U.S. senator, got a particularly enthusiastic response inside the convention hall as he gave a speech that hit on his usual campaign themes while zeroing in on issues specifically affecting the Muslim world, including in foreign policy. He was introduced by his campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, who is Muslim.

"We must speak out when we have a president and an administration who believe — and I quote — that 'Islam hates us,'" Sanders said, referring to a comment Trump made while campaigning for president in 2016. "We must speak out at hate crimes and violence targeted at the Muslim community and call it what it is: domestic terrorism."

At the same time, Sanders pointed to causes for optimism: the non-Muslims who joined in airport protests against the travel ban and the Muslim who have been elected to Congress under Trump. "What that tells me is that the American people understand our country is at our best when we stand together regardless of our religious or spiritual beliefs," Sanders said.

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/31/julian-castro-bernie-sanders-court-muslim-vote-houston/