In the midst of rising political tensions, Kamala Harris is facing criticism for the absence of a Palestinian American voice at her Democratic event.
This raises concerns over the party’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered at the convention this week to criticize the administration’s policies on Israel and Gaza.
They are accusing Biden and Harris of supporting what they describe as genocide, a term that pro-Israel Democrats and most Republicans reject, arguing that it minimizes Hamas’s role in the conflict.
The Uncommitted National Movement, with around 30 delegates at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), is gaining attention, especially since Minnesota, the home state of Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz, has the largest delegation with 11 members.
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This movement has become a point of division within the Democratic Party, highlighting a split with many Muslims, Arab Americans, and anti-war Democrats.
Increasing dissatisfaction over Gaza could possibly affect the party’s cohesion as it continues through the election.
The Hill reports that hundreds of thousands of voters chose “uncommitted” during the presidential primaries to signal their opposition to President Biden’s handling of the conflict and his perceived alignment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Several progressive Democratic lawmakers, including Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called for a cease-fire while speaking at the convention. Their appeals were met with resounding cheers in the United Center.
Additionally, she commended Vice President Kamala Harris for “working tirelessly to secure a cease-fire in Gaza and for bringing hostages home.”
On Wednesday, the Uncommitted National Movement announced that the Harris campaign had rejected its request to allocate speaking time for Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, an American pediatric intensive care surgeon, to discuss her experiences treating patients in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war.
Furthermore, Georgia state Representative Ruwa Romman showed her frustration on social media: “I’ve had some pretty crushing days, but to be honest today took the cake.”
She is the only Palestinian serving in Georgia’s state legislature. “I do not understand how there’s room for an anti-choice Republican but not me in our party. I need someone to explain to me what to do now.”
The decision by DNC officials to exclude a Palestinian American speaker led the coalition group Muslim Women for Harris-Walz, which supports Harris and Walz, to suspend its campaign.
The Uncommitted movement has also garnered support from other organizations at the DNC, such as the United Auto Workers (UAW).
They posted on X: “If we want the war in Gaza to end, we can’t put our heads in the sand or ignore the voices of the Palestinian Americans in the Democratic Party. If we want peace, if we want real democracy, and if we want to win this election, the Democratic Party must allow a Palestinian American speaker to be heard from the DNC stage tonight.”
As the party approaches its next steps in the election, the party’s unity and future course are likely to be shaped by how these tensions are resolved in the coming months.
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