Uncommitted delegates have staged a sit-in outside the arena since Wednesday night.
Democrats Reject Palestinian Speaker Demand at DNC
Sit-In Protest Outside Arena
Uncommitted delegates, opposing U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza, staged a sit-in outside the convention arena starting Wednesday night.
Deadline Missed
By 6:00 PM Thursday, the activists had not received a response from Kamala Harris’s campaign regarding their request for a Palestinian speaker.
Continued Demonstrations
Outside the arena, thousands rallied against the Gaza conflict and White House policies. The protests were mostly peaceful, except for an unsanctioned protest outside the Israeli consulate which led to 56 arrests.
Protester’s Reaction
Layla Elabed, a co-leader of the uncommitted national movement, criticized the Democratic leadership for denying their request. She described it as a “disastrous decision.”
Campaign Response
DNC Rejects Palestinian The Harris campaign stated that they had met with uncommitted leaders and mentioned that several speakers had addressed the Gaza situation. The campaign emphasized the convention’s focus on the vice president’s speech.
Delegate Details
Uncommitted delegates, chosen in state primaries, opposed Biden and supported a Palestinian speaker. They sent 30 delegates to the convention.
Lack of Focus on Gaza
DNC Rejects Palestinian The Gaza conflict was largely avoided during the convention, with only a few mentions by speakers. Activists aimed to pressure the Democratic Party to address Palestinian human rights.
Future Discussions
Abbas Alawieh, an uncommitted delegate, stated that future discussions with the vice president and her team would be necessary.
Foreign Policy Mention
Rep. Ilhan Omar noted the lack of focus on foreign policy during the convention, suggesting it often gets overshadowed.