DNC snubs Palestinian spokesperson, Democrats ignore Gaza protesters

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) was expected to end with little controversy until yesterday, when the Democratic National Committee Decide to reject Pro-Palestinian delegates worked to get Palestinian Americans onto the main stage. As a result, the “No-Say” delegates — a representative of the Democratic primary campaign that encouraged voters to choose “No-Say” over President Joe Biden to express their dissatisfaction with the president’s handling of Israel’s Gaza war — staged a sit-in outside the chamber. Now, the “No-Say” delegates and their allies have launched a Last-minute pressure campaign Find a speaker on the final night.

One of the potential speakers recommended by the Undecided National Movement organizers is Ruwa Roman, a Palestinian-American and Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives. She told me that she and the Undecided delegates are optimistic about getting a chance to speak because, as of yesterday, the Democratic National Committee was still in discussions with the group and had not rejected their request.

On the surface, it was clear that the Democratic Party did not want a speaker who would criticize the Biden administration’s handling of the war. But Roman had no such intentions, and she had a speech prepared in case the convention organizers invited her to take the stage. Instead, she just wanted to highlight the human stories behind the suffering of the Palestinians. Her speech urged people to support the Harris-Waltz combination and criticized former President Donald Trump for using the word “Palestine” as a slur.

This is why the Democratic Party refuses to elevate Palestinian voices to the main stage, despite giving Family chat time The Israeli-American hostage situation has upset many voters — especially those who want Harris to take a more sympathetic approach to Gaza than Biden. For example, Muslim women support the Harris-Waltz group Quick disbandment There were earlier reports that Palestinians would not attend the conference.

For Roman, the fact that the GOP welcomed Republicans to the stage but turned her away was an insult not only to her but to the Palestinians. “When I saw (former Republican) Lt. Gov. Jeff Duncan on the stage, I realized that the Republican Party had turned me away — a Republican member and a Democratic elected official — and frankly, that was just too much,” she said.

The event is yet another obstacle for Harris, who faces opposition from Arab and Muslim American voters and others who see the Gaza war as a major concern. With Biden out, Harris has a chance to distance herself from the “Genocide Joe” chants common at pro-Palestinian protests. By asking to speak, the uncommitted movement offered her an olive branch — a small gesture that showed she was listening. But by rejecting the offer, the Harris campaign risked damaging an already fragile alliance.

After Biden left office, many anti-Biden Democrats who were concerned about the Gaza war saw an opportunity to restart.

The representatives who “did not express their views” initially Indicated The Harris campaign has been more willing to discuss their concerns than the Biden campaign. In the weeks since Harris became a candidate, Democrats have made moves to show they are listening to voters’ concerns about Gaza. For example, the Harris-Waltz campaign manager met with the uncommitted national campaign. The Democratic National Committee provided a space for Palestinians to hold a panel discussion with doctors who worked in Gaza during the war. Telling of a horror story They witnessed it.

But those gestures alone weren’t enough to assuage voters’ concerns, especially since the denial of Palestinian-American speakers at the convention signaled the party wasn’t interested in elevating the issue. Sometimes the campaign ignored pro-Palestinian voters altogether. At a rally in Detroit earlier this month, for example, Harris cracked down on protesters advocating for a ceasefire. “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say so. Otherwise, I said so,” She saidclearly outraged by activists. If Harris really wants to reassure pro-Palestinian voters, she’ll have to distance herself from Biden while still serving as his No. 2, a difficult task. But that’s why small gestures like speeches can go a long way.

“This should have been the symbolic minimum,” said Roman, a Georgia delegate. “We know we can’t change policy in one election cycle, and this should have been an easy way for the party to come together to address this issue. A lot of people care about this. Anyone who went to the convention saw so many people wearing pins, scarf And flags. They were everywhere.”

It seems that allowing Palestinian Americans to give speeches may not be as dangerous as Democrats think, especially among their base. Member of Parliament and others Democratic Party officials already Promote the Party arrive Hosting Palestinian speakers In the Congress, and organizations like the United Auto Workers I also agree with this ideaIsrael’s actions in Gaza are deeply unpopular among Democrats, polls show. Most Americans disapprove Israel’s handling of the war.

When Vox asked the Democratic National Committee why it did not agree to allow Palestinians to speak at the convention, the Harris campaign declined to answer. But given the “uncommitted” delegates, I have been asking the party for a chance to speak for the past two months. And since the Democratic National Committee did not formally agree until yesterday, it seems necessary to appoint a spokesperson.

The problem with the Democratic Party is that, while it touts itself as a big tent, it is now failing to actually walk the walk. To be sure, not every speaker on the Chicago stage represents Harris’s views or policy goals, or even Official political party platform It doesn’t represent everything the president will push for while he’s in the White House. So even if a Palestinian spokesperson says something the Harris campaign disagrees with, it’s not the end of the world — after all, that’s what the big tent is like.

For much of the convention, Democrats have focused on Civil Rights, Human dignityand projection one Upright image But if the party completely resists the push to have Palestinians speak at the convention, the DNC will be sending the message that what is happening to the Palestinians is an isolated incident — not a grave injustice that should be addressed but a nuisance that is best left alone. At least that’s what Palestinian-American voters or their allies think, and they are too Familiar with many efforts The exclusion of their voices from the national conversation may offer a lesson for us all from this disaster.

“Honestly, the message I personally got was that nothing we did was good enough,” Roman told me. “So how do I go back (to Georgia) and prove to people that I know this is a party that’s worth supporting and trusting?”