For more than 40 years, Harvey Bronstein has been a loyal Democrat and this fall, the Southfield resident intends to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

But the retired professor at Oakland Community College who’s active in Michigan’s Jewish community adds that “she’s not the person if we could make up a perfect person for the Jewish community,” expressing concern she may be more to the left on Israel than President Joe Biden.

“We have to get used to Kamala Harris,” Bronstein said. “I think she’s going to grow.”

Imad Hamad, executive director of the Dearborn-based American Human Relations Council, also has some concerns about Harris, but he’s concerned she may be too supportive of Israel, expressing concern about the thousands of Palestinians killed after Israeli strikes in recent months.

“We’re reviewing her record,” Hamad said. “For now, no decision taken yet, it’s premature. We are waiting to see if … it is going to be a continuation of the Biden administration … or anything different.”

The differing views in metro Detroit’s Jewish and Arab American communities reflect intense discussions taking place in Michigan as Democrats move to endorse Harris, seen as the likely Democratic nominee for president. Michigan has the highest concentration of residents of Middle Eastern ancestry and an established Jewish community that’s known nationally for its pro-Israel activism.

Michigan’s Democratic delegates “overwhelmingly voted” to endorse Harris on Tuesday, the Michigan Democratic Party said. More than 100 delegates met on a Zoom call, with only one voting “present” and two Arab American delegates voting “no,” a party official said. There was some controversy during the meeting that illustrated the frustrations some Arab Americans in Michigan feel towards the Biden administration’s policies on Gaza. Abbas Alawieh, one of the two delegates who voted against endorsing Harris, said on X that while he was speaking about Gaza, someone else shouted out: “Shut up, a——.”

The chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, Lavora Barnes, condemned the outburst against Alawieh.

“The disrespect shown to a member of our delegation was completely unacceptable,” Barnes said in a statement to the Free Press. “We know that we are one Democratic family — our differences and the way we respond to them are what make us strong. In this moment, we want to reiterate that our Arab American and Muslim brothers and sisters are welcome in this party. We will continue to work toward our common goal of defeating Republicans up and down the ballot this November.”

Alawieh, part of the “Uncommitted” movement that urged people not to vote for Biden during the primaries, said our “demands are reasonable: We just want a ceasefire and for our party’s leaders to stop sending bombs to kill people we love.” He said that the uncommitted delegates want to meet with Harris “to express what we’re hearing from the voters we’ve mobilized.”

On Thursday, Harris met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting the U.S. and spoke before Congress on Wednesday, drawing protests. U.S. House Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, the only member of Congress of Palestinian descent, sat as he spoke, holding up a sign that read “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide.” In Dearborn, Hamad held a press conference along with other Arab American and Muslim leaders calling for Netanyahu to be arrested during his visit for war crimes.

“It’s a mockery of our democratic values” to honor Netanyahu, Hamad said. “Congress is awarding him for his war crimes.”

Also, the Detroit-based UAW was one of several unions opposing Netanyahu’s speech, saying in a statement this week: “We reject this insult to all those calling for peace and justice.”

But Bronstein said Netanyahu’s speech “was magnificent,” saying he was trying to explain what Israel is trying to accomplish. He added that he doesn’t always support Netanyahu: “I have always had very mixed feelings about him.”

On Thursday, Harris met with Netanyahu. She kept a serious face during her public handshake with him before they met and delivered remarks afterwards in a firm manner.

“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating,” Harris said. “The images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third or fourth time, we cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering and I will not be silent.”

Harris called for a two-state solution, adding: “It is time for this war to end and end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity and self determination.”

Earlier in the day, Harris released a statement blasting some radical protesters who made pro-Hamas statements and others who burned American flags during the protests against Netanyahu in the nation’s capital.

“Yesterday, at Union Station in Washington, D.C. we saw despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric,” Harris said. “I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews.”

Harris’s husband, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, who is Jewish, spoke this week with Jewish advocates on a call with the Jewish Democratic Council of America, telling them he displays a Jewish symbol on his home, called a mezuzah, and may place one on the White House if Harris becomes president. If Harris wins, he would be the first Second Lady or Gentleman to be Jewish.

“I’m just going to keep living openly as a Jew, and maybe there will be a mezuzah on the White House,” Emhoff said.

While several Arab American leaders said they were not yet ready to endorse Harris, one prominent government official of Arab descent has come out in support of her. Abdul El-Sayed, a Wayne County official who oversees its health department and ran for governor as a Democrat in 2018, said Monday on X: “Considering the dangers of the Republican nominee & potential of her leadership, it’s time for all of us to unite behind Kamala Harris to defeat Trump.”

Gilda Jacobs, of Huntington Woods, a former state Senator and state House representative who is active in the Jewish community, is supporting Harris. She was on a Zoom call with other Jewish Democrats this week whom she said were excited for Harris.

“She’s married to a Jewish guy,” which could “possibly influence her sort of decisions,” Jacobs said.

Khalil AlHajal Here’s what Kamala Harris needs to do to win over Michigan’s uncommitted Democrats

Regarding what the policies on Israel may be in a Harris administration, Jacobs said it’s unclear, but adds she believes she will work to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

“I think it’s too early to tell to be really honest with you,” how Harris will be on Israel, Jacobs said. “She has been a loyal supporter of Biden, because it’s her job to do that. … This is probably one of the most difficult world crises that we’re in right now. And I am confident she’s going to do everything she can to try to help get those hostages released.”

State Rep. Noah Arbit, D-West Bloomfield, founder of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, said he strongly supports Harris.

“Harris has demonstrated her advocacy and support for American Jews throughout her time in office, from working to combat hate crimes as Attorney General of California, to pioneering the first-ever national strategy to combat antisemitism in 2023 as vice president,” Arbit told the Free Press in a statement. “Michigan Jews will have a steadfast ally in our challenging fight against antisemitism on the far-right and far-left, and Israel will have a stalwart partner along the path to lasting security and a just peace.”

Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@freepess.com or X @nwarikoo

A new WDIV/Detroit News survey asked Michigan voters where they stand on the probable race for president between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Harris hasn’t officially been nominated by the Democratic Party, but has the support of most major players, and is the presumed nominee after President Joe Biden pulled out of the race last weekend.

The WDIV/Detroit News survey was conducted between Monday and Wednesday, following Biden’s decision.

The Trump-Harris race for president

The WDIV/Detroit News survey found the presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is dead even at 41%-41%.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. takes 10% of the vote while 6.0% of voters remain undecided. Here’s the full breakdown:

• 41.6% Kamala Harris

• 41.3% Donald Trump

• 9.7% Robert F Kennedy Jr.

• 0.7% Chase Oliver

• 0.5% Jill Stein

• 0.3% Named another candidate

• 5.9% Undecided

The survey found that Kennedy holds a one-point lead among Independent voters, but nearly 18% remain undecided.

Other key findings from the survey:

• Among men, Trump holds a wide lead of 50.3%-35.3%, with 8.0% of men going to Kennedy – a Trump lead of 15.0% among men. But among women, Harris leads 47.4%-33.0%, with 11.2% going to Kennedy – a Harris lead of 14.4% among women.

• Among African American voters, 82.1% support Harris, 11.5% support Kennedy, no black voters in this survey supported Trump.

Voter motivation

The survey found that Michigan voters agree with Biden’s decision to step aside in the 2024 presidential race. 88.3% of voters agree compared to only 6.5% that disagree.

Voters were asked if Biden’s announcement to not run again made them more or less motivated to vote in November.

• 25.6% said they were more motivated.

• 0.7% said they were less motivated.

• 73.2% said it had no impact on their motivation.

The decision disproportionately made “Strong Democratic” voters, voters aged 18-29, and African American voters more motivated to vote in November.

• 46.4% of voters aged 18-29 are more motivated to vote.

• 38.5% of African American voters are more motivated to vote.

• 36.6% of Strong Democratic voters are more motivated to vote.

Poll methodology:

The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducted a Michigan statewide survey of November 2024 likely general election voters. The 600 sample, live operator telephone survey was conducted on July 22-24, 2024 and has a margin of error of +/-4.0% with a 95% level of confidence. 17.8% of respondents were contacted via landline telephone. 82.2% of respondents were contacted via cell phone telephone. This survey was commissioned by WDIV Local 4 News and the Detroit News.

LANSING, MI – Michigan is now the 20th state in the U.S. to outlaw legal arguments that someone’s sexual orientation justified assaulting them.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law the bill on Tuesday, July 23, banning the defense commonly referred to as “gay panic” or “LGBTQ+ panic.”

Under the new law, which goes into effect Oct. 23, a person charged with a violent crime can’t seek to reduce or evade criminal liability on claims that they lost control and reacted violently because of the victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

“I have been incredibly passionate about this bill for several years, and I am elated to see it signed into law. Protecting the future of LGBTQ+ people across Michigan is something I have been working hard to do,” said the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia.

“This bill, alongside many other monumental pieces of legislation brought forth by Michigan Democrats, is a huge step toward securing a safe and inclusive state for all Michiganders.”

The bill was sent to the governor after passing along party lines June 27 in the state House, with Republicans voting against the bill. In the state Senate, Republican Sens. Mark Huizenga, Dan Lauwers, Jonathan Lindsey and Ed McBroom joined with Democrats on approving the bill.

Michigan set to become 20th state outlawing ‘gay panic’ defense

According to the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Michigan is the 20th state to ban the gay panic defense.

Michigan has had at least four cases between 1970 and 2020 where a murder defendant used the gay panic defense, according to a 2020 study by W. Cartsen Andresen, a professor at St. Edward’s University in Texas.

The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association said that it has tracked dozens of cases across the U.S. where juries have acquitted defendants due to the LGBTQ+ panic defense strategy. The crimes in those cases ranged from assault to murder.

Under Michigan’s new law, a person is not justified in using force against another person based on the discovery or knowledge of the victim’s sex, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.

That discovery or knowledge also is not permitted as evidence to demonstrate reasonable provocation, to show that an act was committed in the heat of passion or to support a defense of reduced mental capacity.

Victims’ sexuality can be used to justify crimes. Legislation could stop it.

One of the most infamous cases of the use of the defense was the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming. Shepard, 21, was driven to a remote area by two men who then brutally beat him, tied him to a fence and left him to die.

Lawyers defending one of Shepard’s killers argued his client was partly triggered by an unwanted sexual advance by Shepard and previous traumatic experiences with LGBTQ+ people. The judge did not allow the defense.