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United States American Muslim Public Affairs Committee (USAMPAC)

Website:

usampac.org/
Location:

Cummings, GA
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Type:

Political Advocacy Group
Formation:

2023
Co-Founders:

Haider Ali

IsTafa Zaidi

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The United States American Muslim Public Affairs Committee (USAMPAC) was formed to promote Muslim candidates for office, especially those running for elected or positioning for appointed positions in or associated with the Democratic Party. 1

AMPAC has pressured President Joe Biden to call for an armistice in the Israel-Hamas war. 2 It is part of a larger coalition of pressure groups who have participated in the #AbandonBiden hashtag campaign, marched in Washington, D.C. in favor of a ceasefire in the Gaza-Israel war, and threatened to withhold support from President Biden in the 2024 presidential elections due to President Biden’s support for Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on the country. 3 4 5

Background

The American Muslim Public Affairs Committee was formally registered with the Federal Election Commission in March 2024. 6 It endorses candidates for Democratic Party positions as well as for elected office. Its endorsements range from local offices to U.S. congressional races. 7

As of May 2024, it promotes its endorsement of three U.S. Representatives: Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MI). 8 Reps. Tlaib and Omar have been controversial for their support for Hamas, opposition to Israel, and antisemitic comments. They have also both been allied with Americans Muslims for Palestine, an anti-Israel group that has been accused of being a front group for terrorist groups. 9 10

Rep. Carson opposed a Congressional resolution supporting Israel in October 2023, after Hamas launched an attack on Israeli citizens that resulted in the Israel-Hamas war. He also supported a resolution condemning Hamas’ role in the war and called for Biden to lead de-escalation of the conflict. 11

AMPAC has built support especially among California-based Muslim leaders. Speakers at its inaugural meeting in April 2024 included several California elected officials, the executive director of the San Francisco chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the California-based Islamic Scholarship Fund. 12  

#AbandonBiden Campaign

The initial meeting of the #AbandonBiden campaign was held in December 2023 and organized by the American Muslim Public Affairs Committee. 13 The effort was designed to cause President Joe Biden to lose in both the Democratic Party’s presidential primaries and in the general election because of what the effort describes as his support for “genocide in Gaza.” 14

The effort has generated media coverage because of significant Muslim presence in competitive states, especially Michigan. 15 16 17

Leadership

As of April 2024, the legally designated agent for the American Muslim Public Affairs Committee is former Council on American-Islamic Relations Texas board member Junaid Noormohamed. 18 19 CAIR-Texas is an affiliate of the national Council on American-Islamic Relations, a U.S.-based Muslim advocacy group which has been accused of ties to international extremist Islamist groups. 20

Its treasurer is Georgia business consultant Zia Hasan. 21

AMPAC’s inaugural annual meeting announcement cited Haider Ali and IsTafa Zaidi as co-founders. 22

References

  1. About us. United States American Muslim Public Affairs Committee. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://usampac.org/about
  2. “A Message to Americans: National Muslim Leaders Launch #AbandonBiden Nationwide Campaign, Pledge to Actively Campaign Against Biden Over Failure to Call for Gaza Ceasefire, Leaders Send New Year’s Message of Peace to Americans, Muslims, and People Worldwide.” AbandonBiden. December 12, 2024. Archived from the original December 30, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://archive.ph/FRYS2
  3. Endorsers. March on Washington for Gaza. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://march4gaza.org/endorsers/
  4. Press Release. AbandonBiden. January 13, 2024. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://abandonbiden24.com/press-release/
  5. Picciotto, Rebecca, “Muslim leaders expand campaign to abandon Biden in 2024 over Israel-Hamas war.” CNBC. December 20, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/30/muslim-leaders-expand-campaign-to-abandon-biden-over-israel-hamas-war.html
  6. American Muslim Public Affairs Committee (AMPAC). FEC Form 1. Federal Election Commission. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00872614/1763061/
  7. Candidates We Support. United States American Muslim Public Affairs Committee. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://usampac.org/candidate-support
  8. USAMPAC. Accessed May 30, 2024. https://usampac.org/.
  9. Jacobson, William. “Investigation: Radical ‘American Muslims for Palestine’ a Key Connector of Anti-Israel Groups.” Legal Insurrection. August 26, 2019. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://legalinsurrection.com/2019/08/investigation-radical-american-muslims-for-palestine-a-key-connector-of-anti-israel-groups/
  10. Profile: American Muslims for Palestine. Anti-Defamation League. March 29, 2013. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.adl.org/sites/default/files/american-muslims-for-palestine-2013-03-29-v4.pdf
  11. Godby, Schwab, Hunter. “US Rep. Carson breaks from Indiana colleagues, votes ‘no’ on Israel resolution.” WISHTV.com. October 26, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.wishtv.com/news/politics/carson-breaks-from-indiana-colleagues-votes-no-on-israel-resolution/
  12.  USAMPAC Inaugural Meeting. Eventbrite. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usampac-inaugural-meeting-tickets-885354508167
  13. “A Message to Americans: National Muslim Leaders Launch #AbandonBiden Nationwide Campaign, Pledge to Actively Campaign Against Biden Over Failure to Call for Gaza Ceasefire, Leaders Send New Year’s Message of Peace to Americans, Muslims, and People Worldwide.” AbandonBiden. December 12, 2024. Archived from the original December 30, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://archive.ph/FRYS2
  14. AbandonBiden. Facebook. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/abandonbiden24
  15. Picciotto, Rebecca, “Muslim leaders expand campaign to abandon Biden in 2024 over Israel-Hamas war.” CNBC. December 20, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/30/muslim-leaders-expand-campaign-to-abandon-biden-over-israel-hamas-war.html
  16. Timotija, Filip. “ ‘Abandon Biden’ rallies Pennsylvania voters on primary day.“ The Hill. April 23, 2024. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4616577-abandon-biden-rallies-pennsylvania-voters-on-primary-day/
  17. Terrell, Bailey. “Residents speak out after watching State of the Union address at ‘Abandon Biden’ event.” CBS News. March 8, 2024. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/abandon-biden-event-voters-react-state-of-the-union/
  18. American Muslim Public Affairs Committee (AMPAC). FEC Form 1. Federal Election Commission. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00872614/1763061/
  19. Cair Texas Inc. ProPublica. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/371453067
  20. The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). Anti-Defamation League. July 18, 2023. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/council-american-islamic-relations-cair
  21. Zia Hasan. LinkedIn. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/zia-hasan21/
  22. USAMPAC Inaugural Meeting. Eventbrite. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usampac-inaugural-meeting-tickets-885354508167
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United States American Muslim Public Affairs Committee (USAMPAC)

4015 Brook Drive
Cummings, GA