Gilchrist Says Israel is Committing Genocide at Arab Conference

September 29, 2025

Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist publicly condemned Israel's actions in Gaza at an Arab American conference, calling it genocide and pledging not to accept money from pro-Israel lobby AIPAC in his gubernatorial campaign. His stance marks a significant break from other Democratic candidates in Michigan, where a large Arab American community and Jewish population coexist. Gilchrist criticized using American taxpayer dollars to fund weapons while Palestinian civilians suffer, positioning himself differently from fellow gubernatorial candidates Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

Who is affected

Arab American and Muslim communities in Michigan, particularly in Dearborn
Jewish communities in Metro Detroit
Michigan voters, especially those concerned about the Israel-Gaza conflict
Democratic Party voters and leadership in Michigan
Palestinian civilians in Gaza
Michigan gubernatorial candidates (Gilchrist, Benson, Swanson, Duggan)

What action is being taken

Gilchrist is publicly condemning Israel's actions as genocide at Arab American conferences
Gilchrist is refusing to accept campaign money from AIPAC
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is appealing to both sides of the issue
Black Democratic leaders in Michigan are supporting pro-Israel candidates like Haley Stevens
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna is pushing Democratic leadership to call for an end to the war

Why it matters

Michigan has the largest Arab American community in the U.S. and a significant Jewish population
The Israel-Gaza conflict has become a divisive issue among Michigan Democrats
Many Muslim voters in Michigan abandoned the Democratic Party in the 2024 election over Gaza policy
Gilchrist's stance breaks with other Black Democratic leaders in Michigan who support pro-Israel candidates
The death toll in Gaza has topped 66,000 Palestinians according to Gaza's Health Ministry, following Hamas' attack that killed more than 1,200 Israelis
The issue could significantly impact voting patterns in Michigan, which switched from supporting Biden in 2020 to Trump in 2024

What's next

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump for talks on halting Israel's attacks on Gaza City

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle