Bernie 2020
March 7, 2020

NEWS: Bernie 2020 Announces Michigan Campaign Co-Chairs

Elected Officials, Union Leaders and Grassroots Activists to Co-Chair Michigan Campaign

DETROIT — Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign today announced a slate of elected officials, union leaders and grassroots activists from across Michigan who will serve as state campaign co-chairs. The announcement comes ahead of Sen. Sanders’ return to the Great Lakes State this weekend for Get Out the Vote rallies in Dearborn, Flint, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who endorsed Sen. Sanders in October, will serve as Bernie 2020 Michigan State Chair. The Michigan campaign Vice-Chairs include: West Michigan Plumbers and Pipefitters Union member Ryan Bennett, Native American Activist & Attorney Holly T. Bird, Chair and Founder of the Democratic National Committee Environment and Climate Crisis Council Michelle Deatrick, State Representative Abdullah Hammoud (District 15), Former UAW International President Bob King, State Representative Yousef Rabhi (District 53), State Representative Isaac Robinson (District 4), Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield and Executive Director of Detroit Action Branden Snyder.

“Our Michigan state co-chairs have a rich history of pioneering progressive change in their communities and are unafraid to take on tough fights in defense of working people,” said Michigan State Coordinator Michael Fasullo. “We’re happy to welcome them to the campaign and look forward to working with them to put a champion of the working class in the White House.”

Bernie 2020 has seen an outpouring of support in Michigan -- particularly among young and Arab American voters. The Michigan campaign has built an unmatched organizing machine with staff and volunteers hosting over 700 events to connect with voters across Michigan.

Meet the Bernie 2020 Michigan Campaign Co-Chairs:

Rashida Tlaib, State Chair - U.S. Representative (CD-13)
“I represent communities on the front lines of environmental racism and economic inequality, who know firsthand the painful impacts of our government doing nothing. We are fighting for our children to breathe clean air and drink clean water. We are fighting against poverty and systematic disinvestment in our neighborhoods. We need a president who will not back down from the corporate bullies who profit off of our suffering, and who will never sell us out. Senator Bernie Sanders is organizing a transformational political movement and will fight to dismantle the racist, classist, and oppressive structures that hurt every corner of our nation, and I’m proud to endorse him to be our next president.”

Ryan Bennett, State Vice-Chair - Business Manager, West Michigan Plumbers and Pipefitters Union
“I proudly support Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States. The resurgence of the middle class depends on the advancement of trade unions, and Bernie's Workplace Democracy Act would help lead that resurgence. Many politicians pay lip service to organized labor around election time, but Bernie has stood proudly beside us every single time. This was evident when Bernie and his campaign drove two hours out of his way to do a small rally at our Union hall in West Michigan. Senator Sanders is the only candidate that I trust to follow through on his pro-labor agenda. He is consistent, honest, and understands a fair day's work. I have Bernie's back because I know he has mine."

Holly T. Bird, State Vice-Chair - Native American Activist & Attorney, HT Bird, PLLC
“Our vote for the highest office of this country is not for us, it is for our children and for the next seven generations. Bernie Sanders has the heart and mind for providing a hand up to those in need. He wants to ensure equal access to healthcare, education, housing and economic stability, fight climate change, and unite all people. Bernie understands that giving a successful future to our children requires policies and actions that ensure these things now -- our future depends on it.”

Michelle Deatrick, State Vice-Chair - Chair and Founder, Democratic National Committee Environment and Climate Crisis Council & Former Vice Chair, Washtenaw County Commission
“Senator Bernie Sanders’ bold progressive vision resonates deeply here in the Heartland. Bernie is an outspoken champion for Medicare for All, improving workers’ rights and wages, and the Green New Deal. With Bernie—and through the energetic grassroots movement he inspires and empowers—our country has a unique opportunity to create the transformative change we so desperately need in order to save our democracy and our planet. I stand strong with Bernie because he stands with us, both on the picket line and in the halls of power—just as he’s done all along. Bernie has my wholehearted endorsement."

Abdullah Hammoud, State Vice-Chair - State Representative (District 15)
“As a public health professional, I know all too well the burdens our current healthcare system places on families. Under Senator Sanders' Medicare for All policy, we will finally do away with expensive premiums, copays, deductibles, and surprise bills that many of our family members face. As the son of immigrant parents, I also know the importance of having a President who understands diplomacy, who has the courage to vote ‘No’ against never-ending wars and exponentially growing military budgets. That is why I am proud to endorse Senator Sanders for President."

Bob King, State Vice-Chair - Former UAW International President
“I support Bernie because he has fought for worker rights, civil rights, and justice for all for over 50 years. He has always stood up for workers against the greedy few and corporate bullies. With over 40 years of bargaining experience with many employers, big and small, private, non-profit, and public sector, I understand how all workers would tremendously benefit by Medicare for All, which would free up substantial amounts of employers' dollars that are now spent on healthcare. These current healthcare dollars could be bargained for higher wages, pensions, time off, or whatever workers priorities are. Healthcare should be a human right for all.”

Yousef Rabhi, State Vice-Chair - State Representative (District 53)
“Bernie Sanders has a consistent record of putting the American people over corporate interests. His commitment to social justice and global solidarity with worker movements is the gold standard of what I expect out of a public servant. In an environment with constant pressure to abandon our core values for electoral expediency, I appreciate that he has been an unflinching advocate for what is right, regardless of the political consequences.”

Isaac Robinson, State Vice-Chair - State Representative (District 4)
“Like my mother State Rep. Rose Mary C. Robinson did four years ago, I am proud to endorse Bernie Sanders for President. Bernie’s message is consistent with Dr. Martin Luther King’s call for social and economic justice. As we battle poverty, environmental racism, mass incarceration and wage inequality, we need a trusted, proven leader and champion for justice, like Bernie Sanders as our next President of the United States of America.”

Mary Sheffield, State Vice-Chair - Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore
“I am enthusiastically supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders for president of the United States because he represents the best chance for a paradigm shift in how the government represents all the people of our great nation. From treating healthcare and access to clean safe drinking water as a human right, to ensuring that billionaires pay their fair share, to his plan for education that gives low-income families greater access to opportunities, Sen. Sanders is the best hope for a better and more morally responsible America. I share his vision for improving the lives of everyday working-class Americans through radical changes to how our government operates.”

Branden Snyder, State Vice-Chair - Executive Director of Detroit Action
“I’m supporting Senator Sanders because we need a president who will stand up for working-class Black and Brown families in Michigan against the big corporations, banks, and the criminal legal system, that has for far too long harmed our communities.”

Organizations listed for identification purposes, and do not imply institutional endorsement.

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Bernie 2020
March 7, 2020

NEWS: Major Arab American Community Leaders in Michigan Endorse Bernie Sanders for President

DETROIT — Today, seven Arab American prominent community leaders in Michigan endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for President, reflecting the broad coalition of support Sanders is building across the state ahead of the March 10 primary.

Included in today’s announcement are Zahra Abbas, the Secretary of the Young Democrats of Michigan, delegate to the SCC, and cannabis activist in Dearborn; Abraham Aiyash, a Michigan Progressive leader;  Abed Ayoub, a civil rights attorney and community advocate in Dearborn; Khaled Beydoun, law professor and author; Nasser Beydoun, the Chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League; Ahmad Chebbani, the Founder and Chair of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and Imam Sayed Hassan Qazwini, a Dearborn faith leader.
 
Today’s announcement followed recent endorsements from the American Arab and Muslim Political Action Committee (AMPAC) and the Yemeni American Democratic Caucus (YADC) within the Michigan Democratic Party.
 
AMPAC announced its support on Tuesday, citing Sen. Sanders’ track record in Congress, his clear commitment to the working class, and longstanding stance on negotiating a just peace in the Middle East.
 
YADC voted just last week to back Sen. Sanders, calling him “the best and most qualified candidate for president.” YADC also cited Sanders’ record on social and environmental justice, ending the war in Yemen, and his consistency on ending endless wars. In their endorsement, the Caucus called on Yemeni and Arab American communities to vote for Sen. Sanders in the Democratic primary.
 
“It is an honor to have these leaders standing with us as we work to transform this country for the better,” said Michael Fasullo, Bernie 2020 Michigan State Coordinator. “While Trump has terrorized so many communities, particularly Arab American and Muslim communities, our movement is working to bring together people of all backgrounds. Together we can ensure a just political system rooted in human rights for all.”
 
Additional Michigan leaders supporting Sen. Sanders include U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, DNC Member Michelle Deatrick, School Board Trustee of Kenowa Hills in Grand Rapids Eric-John Szczepaniak, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, State Representative (District 15) Abdullah Hammoud, Mayor Marcus Muhammad, State Representative (District 4) Isaac Robinson of Detroit, State Representative (District 53) Yousef Rabhi of Ann Arbor, Council Member (Ward 5) Ali Ramlawi of Ann Arbor, and Council Member Dave Abdallah of Dearborn Heights, as well as The Young Democrats of Michigan and the Progressive Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party.
 
See below for additional background and statements:
 
COMMUNITY LEADERS
 
Zahra Abbas — Secretary, Young Democrats of Michigan, Delegate to the SCC & Cannabis Activist, Dearborn, MI
 Zahra is a proud Arab American Muslim and secretary of the Young Democrats of Michigan, whose mission is to engage those between the ages of 16 and 36 in politics and help promote progressive policies and ideas. Zahra became involved in politics after helping out on a cannabis legalization ballot after seeing how cannabis treated her epilepsy. Along with her cannabis activism and epilepsy advocacy, she is passionate about healthcare and assuring that people have access to the doctor and medications they need without the barrier of the outrageous medical costs.
 
“I have chosen to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders because he has built and grown a community with the belief that all humans are equal and worthy of a dignified life. Bernie's plan for Healthcare, cannabis, criminal justice reform and environmental policies are what our country needs right now.”

Abraham Aiyash — Michigan Progressive Leader, Hamtramck, MI
Abraham Aiyash is a community organizer and political strategist in Metro Detroit. In 2018, he was a runner up in an 11-way primary for State Senate. He currently serves as the Training Director at Michigan United/ Michigan People’s Campaign, the largest member-based organization in the state.
 
“Bernie’s conviction, consistency, and commitment to people has inspired a movement of young and old, black and brown, working-class and poor folks across the country to stand up and serve, inspire, and change our communities. As the son of Yemeni immigrants, I know too well the impact of war and violence. A Sanders presidency will engage this movement to cancel student debt, end endless wars, save our planet, tackle systemic racism, and finally provide healthcare as a human right to all people. Bernie knows we’re in this together, which is why he always reminds us, its #NotMeUs.”

Abed Ayoub — Civil Rights Attorney and Community Advocate, Dearborn, MI
Ayoub is the Legal and Policy Director of a national civil rights organization. He has nearly two years experience advocating on behalf of Arab, Muslim, and immigrant communities, on both domestic and foreign issues. Ayoub has extensive experience in immigrant rights, and is entrenched in the social justice movement.
 
“Bernie Sanders is the President America needs. As an Arab American and Muslim, I know that Bernie understands and welcomes my community. He understands what Americans need and will create a better America for every one of us, not just those who have the money and influence. He will implement more just policies at home and aboard, building towards a more equitable and fair tomorrow.” 

Khaled Beydoun — Law Professor & Author, Detroit, MI
Khaled Beydoun is a law professor and author of "American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear." Professor Beydoun is one of the leading scholars and public intellectuals addressing the threat of Islamophobia in the United States and globally. 
 
“I have supported Bernie since 2016, mainly because he was the first presidential candidate to explicitly condemn Islamophobia and unapologetically champion the civil rights concerns of Muslims. While other candidates only spoke about Muslims in relation to terrorism and national security, Bernie humanized Muslims, highlighting how their concerns are not unlike Americans of other religious beliefs. In addition, he makes room for voices from downtrodden communities, and will govern from the bottom-up instead of speaking down to our communities.”

Nasser Beydoun — Chairman, Arab American Civil Rights League, Dearborn, MI
Nasser has earned an international reputation for building cultural and economic bridges between the U.S. and the Middle East & Africa. Lebanon-born and Michigan-raised, Nasser rose to prominence as executive director and then chairman of the Michigan based American Arab Chamber of Commerce. He is a successful businessman and entrepreneur and currently serves as Vice President for Multicultural Marketing for Detroit-based Bassett & Bassett Communication Managers. He is a small business owner.  He is the author of "The Glass Palace" published by Algora Publishers New York. The book delves into Qatar today and the modern-day slavery that exists in the oil-rich Arab Gulf states. Since 2015, he has served as Chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League, an organization dedicated to equal rights and protections for Arab Americans and people of all backgrounds. He co-Chairs BRIDGES (Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity) with US Attorney Mathew Schneider.
 
“As an Arab-American and Muslim, Bernie is the only candidate that has supported our community and stood on principle instead of political expediency.”

Ahmad Chebbani — Founder and Chair, American Arab Chamber of Commerce, Orchard Lake, MI
Ahmad Chebbani is an entrepreneur and community advocate in the city of Dearborn, Michigan. He is known for his contributions to the Arab-American community and his efforts to build and maintain stable international relationships between the United States and MENA nations. Chebbani immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1979 during the Lebanese Civil War. After his arrival, Chebbani became a naturalized US citizen and attended Eastern Michigan University, going on to become a prominent business and community leader in the Metro Detroit area.

Imam Sayed Hassan Qazwini — Prominent Muslim American Religious Leader
Imam Sayed Hassan Qazwini is a leading Muslim religious scholar, youth mentor, and community advocate in Dearborn, Michigan and throughout the United States. He has worked with leaders in Christian and Jewish communities to help bridge religious differences through interfaith dialogue, advocating for a more just and equal society based on our shared humanity. His work has been recognized internationally, and nationally by former President Barack Obama.
 
“I believe Senator Bernie Sanders is the most qualified Democratic candidate. He fully understands the rising challenges facing the United States today and is the best equipped to address them. His principled stances on various political issues is equally a matter of inspiration and admiration.”


 **Organizations listed for identification purposes, and do not imply institutional endorsement.**
 
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Bernie 2020
March 6, 2020

NEWS: Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield Endorses Bernie Sanders for President

DETROIT — Today, Sen. Bernie Sanders welcomed the endorsement of Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield, reflecting the growing support Sanders is building across Michigan ahead of the March 10 primary.

“I am enthusiastically supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders for president of the United States because he represents the best chance for a paradigm shift in how the government represents all the people of our great nation,” said Hon. Mary Sheffield. “From treating healthcare and access to clean safe drinking water as a human right, to ensuring that billionaires pay their fair share, to his plan for education that gives low-income families greater access to opportunities, Sen. Sanders is the best hope for a better and more morally responsible America. I share his vision for improving the lives of everyday working class Americans through radical changes to how our government operates.”
 
In November of 2013, Hon. Sheffield became the youngest person ever elected to the Detroit City Council. She was later selected as the Council President Pro Tempore by her colleagues after being elected to a second term in 2017. President Pro Tempore Sheffield was appointed Chair of Neighborhood and Community Services and initially served on the Planning and Economic Development committee, but currently sits on the Budget, Finance and Audit standing committee. Hon. Sheffield is a board member for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, a member of the National Network to Combat Gun Violence, a member of People for the American Way’s (PFAW) Young Elected Officials, a Continuum of Care (for the homeless) board member and a founding member of the newly formed Black Legislative Exchange Council.
 
“It is an honor to have the support of the Honorable Pro Tem Sheffield, who has dedicated herself every day to fighting for the people of Detroit and this great city,” said Bernie 2020 Michigan State Coordinator Michael Fasullo. “It is only with leaders like Hon. Sheffield that we can transform this country so it works for everyone and so that no one is left behind.”
 
At the Council table, President Pro Tem Sheffield has made a commitment to fight for the continued growth of Detroit and has remained steadfast in keeping neighborhoods at the center of the conversation. In her short time on the Detroit City Council, she has launched a number of initiatives designed to engage residents and offer a truly representative form of government to the residents of District 5 and Detroit as a whole. Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield is renowned for her monthly Occupy the Corner – Detroit initiative, Homelessness Taskforce, “State of the Youth” Symposiums, Detroit Girls of Destiny mentorship program and her recently announced People’s Bills designed to help low-income and long term Detroiters.

Legislatively, she has sponsored Inclusionary Housing, Notification/Right to First Refusal and Poverty Tax Exemption Ordinances, restored Police Commission powers after emergency management and successfully fought to save the Senior Home Repair Grant program. Pro Tem Sheffield is committed to building a Detroit and attracting new residents and families but wants to also ensure the City remains committed to the residents who stayed through the toughest of times.
 
Led by faith and driven by her passion for people and justice, City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield has accepted her calling to be an active participant in Detroit’s Renaissance – lending her voice and expertise to ensuring all Detroiters benefit during Detroit’s resurgence and that the development taking place is sustainable.
 
Sen. Sanders has also welcomed support in Michigan from U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, DNC Member Michelle Deatrick, School Board Trustee of Kenowa Hills in Grand Rapids Eric-John Szczepaniak, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, State Representative (District 15) Abdullah Hammoud, Mayor Marcus Muhammad of Benton Harbor, State Representative (District 4) Isaac Robinson of Detroit, State Representative (District 53) Yousef Rabhi of Ann Arbor, Council Member (Ward 5) Ali Ramlawi of Ann Arbor, and Council Member Dave Abdallah of Dearborn Heights, as well as The Young Democrats of Michigan and the Progressive Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party.
 
**Organizations listed for identification purposes, and do not imply institutional endorsement.**
 
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Bernie 2020
March 3, 2020

NEWS: Detroit Faith Leaders Gather to Endorse Bernie Sanders for President

DETROIT — Detroit faith leaders gathered yesterday with State Rep. Isaac Robinson and community members at the Nazarene Baptist Church in Detroit’s North End to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders for President, showing the diverse coalition of support Sanders is inspiring ahead of the March 10 primary.

“It was an honor to stand in Nazarene Baptist Church and hear these Detroit faith leaders from all backgrounds come together to support Bernie Sanders,” said Michigan State Coordinator Michael Fasullo. “It is by coming together like this that we will be able to transform this country for the better and defeat Donald Trump.”

Among the group who threw their support behind Sen. Sanders was Reverend Horace Sheffield III of New Destiny Christian Fellowship; Rev. Kevin Harris, the lead Pastor at the Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit; and Grand Sheik Minister Craig P. Fuqua-Bey of the Moorish Science Temple of America in Detroit.

"In the 1940s, my father organized Ford employees to fight for worker rights,” said Reverend Horace Sheffield III of New Destiny Christian Fellowship, who also serves as the Co-Chair of the MDP Community Democratic Caucus. “Many of the things my father fought for are represented by the Bernie Sanders campaign. I'm supporting Bernie because he wants a better America; one that uses its wealth to help those who are impoverished and does not put a stigma on people simply because they don't earn a living wage. The only person we have in this race who is standing up for people who are marginalized, for those who find themselves in crisis, who find themselves with their backs against the wall, is Bernie Sanders. That is why I'm endorsing Bernie for President."

Rev. Kevin Harris, of Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, said, "We're here today with great leaders in this city. We're here today to talk about the Bernie Sanders campaign. The movement across this country is happening because he struck a chord. Bernie tapped into a vein untouched by status quo politicians who talk about the same things year after year, but deliver the same old results. People on the ground level of society are suffering. We are supporting Bernie Sanders and changing the conversation on what reform looks like in this country."

"When we talk about Bernie Sanders I remember the catchphrase Feel the Bern,” Grand Sheik Minister Craig P. Fuqua-Bey, of the Moorish Science Temple of America in Detroit. “We are here today because we have been burnt, and now is the time to be revitalized. Bernie Sanders is the man who can do it, and we are here in support of him and his economic vision. I believe he is a man of integrity who can march us toward a more noble light."

Recent polling shows Sen. Sanders’ growing base in Michigan and reflects the groundswell of grassroots enthusiasm from the thousands of volunteers and supporters across the state.

Michigan leaders who have previously endorsed Sen. Sanders include Rep. Rashida Tlaib, DNC Member Michelle Deatrick, School Board Trustee of Kenowa Hills in Grand Rapids Eric-John Szczepaniak, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, Mayor Marcus Muhammad, State Representative (District 4) Isaac Robinson of Detroit, State Representative (District 53) Yousef Rabhi of Ann Arbor, Council Member (Ward 5) Ali Ramlawi of Ann Arbor, Council Member Dave Abdallah of Dearborn Heights, and The Young Democrats of Michigan.
 
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Bernie 2020
February 27, 2020

NEWS: Four Elected Officials in Michigan Endorse Bernie Sanders for President

DETROIT — Today, four elected officials in Michigan endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for President, reflecting the broad coalition of support Sanders is building across the state. The announcement comes on the heels of the Senator’s commanding victory in the Nevada caucus on Saturday, and follows recent polling in Michigan that shows Sen. Sanders’ growing base ahead of the March 10 primary. 
 
Included in today’s announcement are State Representative (District 4) Isaac Robinson of Detroit, State Representative (District 53) Yousef Rabhi of Ann Arbor, Council Member (Ward 5) Ali Ramlawi of Ann Arbor, and Council Member Dave Abdallah of Dearborn Heights.
 
“Real change comes from the bottom up,” said Bernie 2020 Michigan State Coordinator Michael Fasullo. “That is why we need progressive leaders who stand with the people at every level, in every state. And that is why our team is proud to have the support of these dedicated Michigan leaders who fight tirelessly for their communities everyday.” 
 
In their endorsements, these elected officials cited Sen. Sanders’ record on social, economic, and racial justice, including on issues like affordable housing, mass transit, universal health care, education, immigration, environmental justice and combating climate change.
 
This new support also reflects the growing grassroots enthusiasm on the ground. Just last week, the Bernie 2020 Michigan team opened five offices, held twelve organizing meetings in five days, and knocked 17,000 doors in one weekend.


See below for additional background and statements:
Isaac Robinson-State Representative (District 4), Detroit, MI
 
An attorney for 15 years, State Rep. Isaac Robinson represents Michigan’s 4th House District, which includes Hamtramck and a central portion of Detroit. Robinson is a 2001 graduate of Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago and served as a law Clerk for the United Auto Workers. A former SEIU organizer and Teamsters Union Political Representative, Robinson is a champion for environmental justice, criminal justice reform and worker rights in the Michigan Legislature.
 
“As a city, a state, a country, and a people, we must change course. We must reverse the attacks on our water, workers and the poor. We have the rare opportunity to elect a President who will stand up for the rights of people — who will stand with us as we battle poverty, environmental racism, mass incarceration and wage inequality; and who will partner with us to build community infrastructure, create good-paying jobs and lift up our neighborhoods. Bernie’s message is consistent with Dr. Martin Luther King’s call for social and economic justice, and Bernie has proven time and time again his true commitment to that mission. Like my mother, State Rep. Rose Mary C. Robinson, did two years ago, I am proud to endorse Bernie Sanders as our next President of the United States. 


Yousef Rabhi-State Representative (District 53), Ann Arbor, MI
 
Yousef Rabhi was first elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives in 2016 after serving six years as a Washtenaw County Commissioner, including one term as Chair of the Board. In his first term, Rabhi set a bold progressive legislative agenda, including introducing a plan to create a single-payer universal health care system for Michigan, fighting to defeat crony corporate tax giveaways and putting forward strong legislation to hold utilities to a standard of 100% renewable energy. Currently in his second term in the State House, Rabhi serves as the Democratic Floor Leader. 
 
“Bernie Sanders has a consistent record of putting the people of this country over corporate interests. His commitment to social justice and global solidarity with worker movements is the gold standard of what I expect out of a public servant. In an environment with constant pressure to abandon our core values for electoral expediency, I appreciate that he has been an unflinching advocate for what is right regardless of the political consequences.”


Ali Ramlawi -Council Member (Ward 5) Ann Arbor, MI
 
Ali Ramlawi was born, raised, and educated in Southeast Michigan, and has been an independent small business owner in Ann Arbor since 1993. Following the national election in 2016, Ramlawi was motivated and determined to be a voice in local government and become part of the solution. In November 2018, he was sworn in as Ann Arbor City Council Member representing the Fifth Ward.
 
“For my whole life, Bernie Sanders has been a champion of the American experiment. His national policies speak to me and represent our best (and perhaps last) opportunity to address critical issues that communities like Ann Arbor are dealing with – affordable housing, mass transit, climate change, clean water, and clean air. We need a national champion we can trust and believe. For me, that is Bernie Sanders.”


Dave Abdallah -Councilman, Dearborn Heights, MI
 
After moving with his family from Lebanon to Dearborn, Dave Abdallah went on to graduate from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, establish himself as a community leader and a longstanding Century 21 Realtor. Abdallah has served as Councilman for Dearborn Heights since 2016 and as a Middle Eastern affairs Commissioner for the State of Michigan since 2013.


“I’ve followed the Democratic primary closely for the last year and out of all the candidates, Senator Bernie Sanders stands above the rest with his character and his consistency on the issues. He earned my respect and my support with his unwavering determination to create a more equal system for all people, particularly when it comes to education and health care. Bernie is about making sure our country works for and respects all human beings without regard for race, religion, sex, or background, and that is why Bernie is the candidate and President we need.”
 
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Bernie 2020
November 21, 2019

NEWS: Abdul El-Sayed Endorses Sanders for President

WASHINGTON – Michigan physician, epidemiologist, public health expert, and progressive activist Dr. Abdul El-Sayed on Thursday endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president.

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed,” Sanders said. “He knows we need a Medicare for All, single-payer system and a government that represents all the people – not just the insurance companies and drug companies. We will together finish what we started in 2016 and transform our country so it works for all of us.”

"When I ran for Governor of Michigan, I realized folks were looking for something simple: healthcare when they were sick, a good roof over the heads, drinkable water, clean air, and a good school for their kids,” El-Sayed said. “Our political and economic system is robbing them of it—and Bernie has been fighting that system for decades. Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, Free College, No corporate money in politics—we’re talking about these things because Bernie put them on our collective conscious. Now it’s time to put him in the Oval Office. That’s why I’m proud to endorse him for President.”

Dr. El-Sayed previously served as Health Director of Detroit, where he rebuilt the city's health department after it was privatized during municipal bankruptcy. In 2018, he ran for governor of Michigan on an unapologetically progressive platform and was endorsed by Sanders as well as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He is the host of “America Dissected” a podcast about America’s health produced by Crooked Media. He’s the author of the forthcoming book “Healing Politics,” which diagnoses our country’s epidemic of insecurity and the empathy politics we need to treat it. He is also Chair of Southpaw Michigan, a progressive political action committee. Dr. El-Sayed is an outspoken advocate for Medicare-for-All, co-authoring a book on the subject for publication in 2021.

As a millennial, a Muslim-American and a physician, Dr. El-Sayed represents the ever growing, diverse coalition of support behind Sanders’ presidential bid.