Uncommitted delegates, protesters demonstrate in DNC, rejecting ban

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
23 Aug 2024 05:52
2 Shares

After DNC organizers did not allow a Palestinian American to speak at the convention, thousands demonstrated against the Israeli war on Gaza.

Listen

Members of the Uncommitted National Movement hold a press conference outside the United Center, in Chicago, the United States, on August 22, 2024. (X/@uncommittedmvmt)

Members of the Uncommitted National Movement staged a demonstration outside the United Center in Chicago, where the final events of the Democratic National Convention are being held.

The movement did so after the convention's organizers refused to allow a Palestinian American to speak at the event on Thursday.

Delegates were joined by thousands of others who protested the decision and the war on the Gaza Strip, according to the American public broadcaster National Public Radio (NPR).

The delegates represent more than 100,000 people who voted "uncommitted" during the party's primaries, as a form of protest against President Joe Biden's administration's support of the Israeli war on Gaza.

"There are forces in Democratic leadership who do not want us to talk about Palestinian human rights. But we will. This is a watershed moment. People all over are saying: Free Palestine!" the movement stated.

“VP Harris chose a Beyoncé song that starts with ‘Freedom, freedom’ — freedom for who? Freedom for Palestinian voices to be on the stage?” - @TheConsciousLee and faith leaders at our press conference this morning. #NotAnotherBomb pic.twitter.com/amk7JiY4Sk
— Uncommitted National Movement 🌺 (@uncommittedmvmt) August 23, 2024

After holding a press conference regarding the latest developments, leaders of the movement and protesters headed to the hallway of the United Center, where other Democrats joined the demonstration calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

"Our voices belong here at the DNC. We will not be shut out," the movement posted on X.

Harris' support for 'Israel' further splits Democratic party

These events come at a crucial time when Vice President Kamala Harris is attempting to assert the party's unity over her candidacy for the upcoming presidential election.

However, the development has led multiple organizations supporting Harris' nomination to issue statements condemning the denied speech at the convention.

Among these organizations was the United Auto Workers (UAW), a union that represents more than 400,000 active members. The union stressed that the party "must allow a Palestinian American speaker to be heard from the DNC stage tonight."

"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," the statement read.

"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," the UAW added.

The Muslim Women for Harris-Walz group also said that it would disband after the declined speaker request.

"This is a terrible message to send to Democrats," the group explained. "Palestinians have the right to speak about Palestine," it asserted.

The Israeli war on Gaza has been ongoing for more than 320 days, where the Israeli occupation has committed numerous war crimes and acts of genocide against the Palestinian people.

Despite clear evidence, Washington has consistently refused to acknowledge Israeli war crimes or acts of genocide during this period. Instead, the Biden-Harris administration has awarded the Israeli regime all possible military, logistical, and diplomatic aid.