GUEST COLUMN: We demand a governor with the courage to confront the genocide in Palestine

As we stand at the precipice of an electoral decision that will shape the future of our state, the Arab and Muslim communities are driven by a singular, pressing concern: the genocide in Palestine. This issue, more than any other, serves as a litmus test for our potential governors. 

It transcends political allegiance or policy priorities, striking at the core of our ethical foundations as a community and a state. Genocide captures the magnitude of the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people. Our demand is apparent: We seek a governor with the moral fortitude to recognize this crisis and to condemn unequivocally the actions of Israel. 

This stance goes beyond symbolism; it is a commitment to universal human rights and the understanding that our state's resources must never fuel oppression. Though not directly involved in foreign policy, governors symbolize our collective conscience. Their stance on international issues, particularly one as grave as the genocide in Palestine, communicates to Arab and Muslim communities whether our voices and our pain are acknowledged and respected.

The willingness to confront genocide reflects a leader's integrity and ethical compass.

This issue is paramount for our communities, overshadowing all other concerns in the upcoming gubernatorial race. Empty promises of peace and justice are insufficient. We demand concrete assurances that our state will not be complicit in genocide and that our leaders will stand on the right side of history by recognizing the suffering of the Palestinian people and actively working against their oppression. 

The governor we seek embodies unassailable ethics and a commitment to justice that transcends borders. 

This leader understands that our state's accurate measure of greatness lies not in economic statistics or infrastructure projects, but in our collective willingness to advocate for what is right, even when inconvenient. 

Such a governor will earn the support of the Arab and Muslim communities. Our vote is a potent agent of change, a declaration of our values and vision for the future. This gubernatorial race represents a demand for recognition, justice and an end to the genocide in Palestine. 

We call on all candidates to clarify their positions. We seek a governor courageous enough to acknowledge the genocide in Palestine and committed to ensuring our state plays no role in perpetuating injustice. Anything less is unacceptable to the Arab and Muslim communities, for whom this issue is deeply embedded in our identity and integral to our position within the state's social structure.