Muslim Women for Harris-Walz has announced its disbandment in protest after their request to feature a Palestinian speaker at the Democratic National Convention was denied. The Biden-Harris administration has faced significant criticism for its unwavering support of Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has claimed over 40,000 lives. This week, uncommitted delegates gathered in Chicago, urging Kamala Harris’s campaign to include a Palestinian American speaker on the convention's main stage.
Abbas Alawieh, a Michigan delegate and spokesperson for the uncommitted delegates, revealed on Wednesday evening that he received a call with the decision: "the answer is no." In response, the delegates, who were elected in state primaries as a protest against President Joe Biden’s support for Israel, organized a small protest outside the United Center that night. Following the decision, Muslim Women for Harris-Walz announced the cessation of its operations.
In their statement, Muslim Women for Harris-Walz declared that they "cannot in good conscience continue" with the organization following the decision.
The group also noted that the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the 23-year-old Israeli hostage who spoke onstage on Wednesday night, demonstrated "more empathy towards Palestinian Americans and Palestinians than our candidate or the DNC has."
"This is a terrible message to send to Democrats. Palestinians have the right to speak about Palestine. We pray that the DNC and VP Harris team make the right decision before this convention is over. For the sake of each of us," the statement concluded.
The Independent has reached out to the Harris campaign for comment.
Alaweih told reporters outside the DNC, "The vice-president’s decision to suppress us is unacceptable." He added, "I’ve run out of options from my position as a delegate, so I’m leaning into my power as an everyday person. And I’m not going anywhere."
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared via FaceTime to address the group, reassuring them that their protest was "paired with a very strong inside push," referring to supporters within the DNC. She emphasized that requesting a Palestinian speaker is “not an irrational thing to ask for; it’s a basic thing to ask for.”
Democratic voters in states such as Michigan, North Carolina, and Minnesota chose "uncommitted" in their state primaries to protest the war in Gaza, leading to 30 delegates being sent to Chicago. Since the start of the convention, at least 55 protesters have been arrested following clashes with police. Further pro-Palestinian demonstrations are anticipated later today when Harris officially accepts the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
Margaret DeReus, executive director of the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project, told The Independent earlier this week, “We’re at a moment of real opportunity where Vice President Harris can turn the page on what has been a disastrous chapter in President Biden’s administration.” DeReus’s organization hosted a panel on Israel and Gaza on Tuesday morning, where she stressed that encouraging words from Harris and Biden must be matched by concrete actions.