WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is hiring Nasrina Bargzi to lead its outreach to Muslim and Arab voters, according to a campaign official who first shared details of the plan with NBC News. The move is aimed at key constituencies angry at President Joe Biden for his support for Israel.
Bargzi worked in Harris' White House office until July as a policy adviser on Muslim, Arab and Gaza issues, as well as reproductive rights, voting and democracy, a campaign spokesman said. She will handle the same broad portfolio for the campaign.
Harris has faced obstruction from pro-Palestinian protesters at recent rallies, and Democrats are bracing for major protests at next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Some Muslim groups that have criticized Biden’s policies on Israel and the Middle East have argued that Harris is an extension of his positions. But other Muslim leaders have said Harris is more sympathetic than Biden to the civilian death toll in Gaza and that she is a better candidate to support in the race.
Bargzi will focus on reaching out to Muslim and Arab communities as voters wait to see whether Harris will offer a different approach to the Middle East and Israel than Biden.
“I am honored to continue my work for the Vice President, advising on a range of critical issues in this election, from democracy and reproductive rights to Muslim and Arab advocacy,” Bargzi said in a statement the campaign shared with NBC News. “I know the Vice President is fundamentally committed to freedom, justice, and peace — and we will work with Americans across the country to help realize these goals and fulfill America’s promise.”
Several people who knew Bargzi praised her in interviews.
“I have had the privilege of knowing Nasrina for more than 20 years, since we attended law school together at Berkeley, and I worked closely with her at the White House,” said Mazen Basravi, who served as the White House’s point person for Muslim liaison until June. “Nasrina is an extraordinarily capable attorney who understands firsthand the trauma of war and displacement. I am confident that she will do a terrific job reaching out to Arab and Muslim communities across the United States.”
Bargzi was a refugee herself, born in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and lived in Pakistan for three years before her family was accepted into the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program in 1985.
Josh Xu, who served as Harris' chief legal adviser in the White House, praised the role Bargzi will take on, saying, “The campaign will benefit greatly from her continued work in these areas for the vice president.”
Hala Hijazi, a longtime San Francisco leader on issues affecting Muslim and Arab communities who now serves on the campaign’s national finance committee, added her praise. “She always leans in and tackles the toughest and most sensitive issues with integrity and fairness in mind,” Hijazi said. “She has always been instrumental in ensuring that communities without a voice and without a seat at the table are heard and included.”
Harris faces criticism after she responds to group of pro-Palestinian protesters at a rally in Detroit last week saying, “I'm here because we believe in democracy. Every voice counts. … But I'm speaking now. I'm speaking now.”
As the protests continued, Harris' tone grew increasingly strident. “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, say it. Otherwise, I'm talking,” Harris said, aided by a crowd of several thousand protesters chanting “Kamala” to silence the protests. Campaign staffers soon escorted the protesters out of the venue.
Days later, at a rally in Arizona, Harris was again interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters. She responded differently, and received loud applause. “I’ve made it clear: Now is the time to make a ceasefire and make a deal on the hostages,” she said. “Now is the time. And the president and I are working around the clock every day to make that ceasefire and bring the hostages home. So I respect your votes, but we’re here to talk about this race in 2024.”
After the Arizona rally, a national Muslim group called Abandon Biden accused Harris of using “empty rhetoric.” “Harris’ stated and repeated positions on the ceasefire and the Israeli hostage agreement are the same lines that the Biden-Harris administration has repeated across departments for eleven months. Furthermore, Harris has offered nothing more than these tired platitudes,” the group said in a statement Monday.
However, other Muslim leaders disagree.
The Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund, a national Muslim organization that has declared itself “non-committal” to Biden’s reelection, announced its endorsement of Harris this month, believed to be the first Muslim group in the non-committal camp to publicly endorse her.
Salima Suswell, founder and CEO of the Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund, praised Harris. “She has shown more compassion for the people of Gaza than either President Biden or former President Donald Trump,” Suswell said. “She has called for a ceasefire on multiple occasions, and I believe she has also expressed compassion for civilian lives and been very thoughtful about helping the people of Gaza.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com