Joe Biden lamented the lack of Islamic education in American school curricula at a Muslim voter outreach forum.
“I wish we taught more in our schools about the Islamic faith. I wish we talked about all the great confessional faiths. It’s one of the great confessional faiths,” Biden said Monday.
Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee and two-term vice president, told Emgage Action’s Million Muslim Votes Summit that he would end President Trump’s “vile” travel ban targeting Muslim nations on the first day of his administration should he win the White House in 100 days on Nov. 3.
The 36-year Delaware senator added that he would work with Congress to pass anti-hate-crime legislation and reiterated his support of a two-state solution in the Middle East.
“I’ll continue to champion the rights of Palestinians and Israelis to have a state of their own — as I have for decades. Each of them, a state of their own,” he said.
Biden also used his appearance to honor the late civil rights icon Georgia Rep. John Lewis. Lewis, 80, died on Friday after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer last year.
“The best way to honor John’s legacy is to continue his purpose, continue his commitment to making it easier for every American to cast their ballot and participate in our democracy,” Biden told the virtual event.
Friday’s gathering was hosted with the aim of turning out a record number of Muslim voters for Biden in the fall.
“This upcoming presidential election is arguably the most important one within our lifetime,” Emgage Action CEO Wa’el Alzayat wrote in a statement. “We cannot afford another four years of a Trump presidency.”
