Understanding the American Muslim Vote

There may not be a more maligned religious group in the United States today than Muslims. While latent discrimination against this minority religious group dates back decades, outright antipathy toward American Muslims reached a fever pitch in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001 when many Americans (wrongly) placed the blame for the terrorist attacks on those who follow the teachings of Islam.

That resentment began to fade somewhat as Americans weathered the Great Recession and the national consciousness began to move on to other perceived enemies around the globe. However, the election of Donald Trump as president fomented that anger with Executive Order 13769 (often referred to as the “Muslim ban”). This order prohibited the Department of Homeland Security from allowing immigration to the U.S. from seven countries that had large Muslim populations.