Pro-Palestine DNC delegates hail Biden exit, regard Harris cautiously
3 Min Read
Uncommitted Movement delegates speak out against the war on Gaza war as Harris takes the stage.
-
Delegates pack the United Center during the Democratic National Convention on August 20, 2024, in Chicago (AP)
Despite being just a small fraction among thousands of delegates, the Uncommitted Movement delegates at the Democratic National Convention are among the most outspoken.
This week in Chicago, they plan to express their discontent over the war on Gaza as Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination in a tightly contested presidential race.
The 30 Uncommitted Movement delegates, representing around 700,000 voters across eight states, welcomed President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race on July 21. However, they view Harris’ rise with caution and skepticism.
"The party needed change," Minnesota delegate Asma Mohammed told AFP. "I don't feel sad about someone who has unapologetically supported a genocidal regime in Israel."
Mohammed came to Chicago hoping for a fresh perspective within her party but was disappointed to find that no pro-Palestinian voices were included on the convention’s speaker list. She said, "I know she's (Harris) more empathetic than Joe Biden, I've seen that," adding, "But those words are not enough. That needs to be followed by policy."
The Uncommitted Movement pushed to include Tanya Haj-Hassan on the speaker list, hoping the convention’s thousands of attendees would hear from a doctor who has treated victims of the war on Gaza. However, their request was only partially granted, with a panel held at the nearby McCormick Center rather than in the main venue. During the panel, the pediatrician vividly described the horrors of war, moving many in the audience to tears.
Palestinian voices continue to be silenced
The DNC’s speaker lineup prominently features several members of Israeli captive families, providing them a platform to speak.
"Why does it have to be one or the other?" asked Mohammed, who emphasized that more than 40,000 people have died in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. In addition to the Uncommitted Movement, protests were held outside the United Center, the venue for the convention, where hundreds of people chanted "Free Palestine!"
Inside the arena, some delegates covered their mouths in silent protest during Biden’s speech on Monday night, a symbolic gesture opposing his response to the war in Gaza.
"We wanted to send the message that we don't agree with what Biden has been doing," said Sabrene Odeh, a delegate from Washington state.
Earlier on Monday, pro-Palestine demonstrators planned to attend the Democratic National Convention's opening day to criticize the Biden administration's stance on "Israel's" genocide in Gaza.
A one-mile march organized by the umbrella group "March on the DNC" was set to take place in a park outside the Chicago convention arena hours before President Joe Biden addresses the gathering where Democratic delegates will publicly nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate.
Organizers had requested a longer path so that all demonstrators could walk, according to Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for March, which is made up of over 200 groups.
