August 22, 2024
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) near the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, US on, August 19, 2024
[Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu Agency]
Pro-Palestinian delegates at this week’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago were denied the opportunity to speak about the impact of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, even as pro-Israeli speakers were featured, Anadolu Agency has reported.
Convention organisers denied a request to include a speaker addressing the impact of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, according to the Washington Post, which quoted a person familiar with the decision who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet public.
The request came from “uncommitted” delegates who have withheld support for Vice President Kamala Harris in protest at the Biden administration’s strong backing for Israel during the conflict. The delegates had hoped to include a speaker who would discuss the devastation in Gaza, but their request was denied without explanation.
“That’s unacceptable to us,” said Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement. “This is not over.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken member of Congress for New York, also criticised the decision, urging the convention to reverse it. “Just as we must honour the humanity of hostages, so too must we centre the humanity of the 40,000 Palestinians killed under Israeli bombardment,” she wrote on X. “To deny that story is to participate in the dehumanisation of Palestinians. The DNC must change course and affirm our shared humanity.”
In contrast, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was at a music festival when the Palestinian group Hamas attacked on 7 October, took the stage at the convention in Chicago on Wednesday. They were greeted with an extended ovation and chants of “bring him home” by thousands of Democratic delegates.
“This is a political convention, but needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue,” said Polin. “It is a humanitarian issue.”
Underlining support from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Polin added that they are “both working tirelessly for a hostage and ceasefire deal.”
Uncommitted, pro-Palestine delegates also started a sit-in protest on Wednesday night outside the convention to protest against the lack of a Palestinian American speaker.
“We cannot in good conscience continue Muslim Women for Harris-Walz in light of this new information from the Uncommitted movement, that VP Harris’s team declined their request to have a Palestinian American speaker take the stage at the DNC,” explained the group after the couple’s speech. “The family of the Israeli hostage that was on the stage tonight has shown 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.”
The group urged the DNC and Harris’s team to reconsider their decision before the convention concludes, “for the sake of each [one] of us.”
Israel is continuing its brutal offensive on Gaza which began after the cross-border incursion by Hamas last October. The onslaught has killed over 40,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded nearly 93,000 others, according to local health authorities. Vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave. It denies the allegation.
Pro-Palestinian delegates at this week’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago were denied the opportunity to speak about the impact of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, even as pro-Israeli speakers were featured, Anadolu Agency has reported.
Convention organisers denied a request to include a speaker addressing the impact of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, according to the Washington Post, which quoted a person familiar with the decision who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet public.
The request came from “uncommitted” delegates who have withheld support for Vice President Kamala Harris in protest at the Biden administration’s strong backing for Israel during the conflict. The delegates had hoped to include a speaker who would discuss the devastation in Gaza, but their request was denied without explanation.
“That’s unacceptable to us,” said Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement. “This is not over.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken member of Congress for New York, also criticised the decision, urging the convention to reverse it. “Just as we must honour the humanity of hostages, so too must we centre the humanity of the 40,000 Palestinians killed under Israeli bombardment,” she wrote on X. “To deny that story is to participate in the dehumanisation of Palestinians. The DNC must change course and affirm our shared humanity.”
In contrast, Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was at a music festival when the Palestinian group Hamas attacked on 7 October, took the stage at the convention in Chicago on Wednesday. They were greeted with an extended ovation and chants of “bring him home” by thousands of Democratic delegates.
“This is a political convention, but needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue,” said Polin. “It is a humanitarian issue.”
Underlining support from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Polin added that they are “both working tirelessly for a hostage and ceasefire deal.”
Uncommitted, pro-Palestine delegates also started a sit-in protest on Wednesday night outside the convention to protest against the lack of a Palestinian American speaker.
“We cannot in good conscience continue Muslim Women for Harris-Walz in light of this new information from the Uncommitted movement, that VP Harris’s team declined their request to have a Palestinian American speaker take the stage at the DNC,” explained the group after the couple’s speech. “The family of the Israeli hostage that was on the stage tonight has shown 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.”
The group urged the DNC and Harris’s team to reconsider their decision before the convention concludes, “for the sake of each [one] of us.”
Israel is continuing its brutal offensive on Gaza which began after the cross-border incursion by Hamas last October. The onslaught has killed over 40,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded nearly 93,000 others, according to local health authorities. Vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave. It denies the allegation.
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