'Muslim Women for Harris' Dissolves Amid Convention Dispute
The organization Muslim Women for Harris withdrew its support for the U.S. vice president and ended its activities on the last day of the Democratic National Convention. Read Full Article at RT.com.
The campaign group Muslim Women for Harris has ceased operations amid reports that pro-Palestine speakers were not allowed to have a platform at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.
Pro-Palestinian activists have been urging US Vice President Kamala Harris to reduce military aid to Israel and advocate more fervently for a ceasefire in Gaza. They intended to express their views at the DNC, which concluded on Thursday.
Earlier that day, Abbas Alawieh, a leader of the Uncommitted National Movement, stated that Democrats had barred Palestinian-Americans from speaking at the DNC. “We think that’s unacceptable. We think that this is the party where we shouldn’t be silencing people’s voices,” he remarked in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Uncommitted National Movement also shared on social media, “We are waiting for a phone call from Vice President Harris and the DNC to allow a single Palestinian American speaker to address delegates from the convention stage. #LetPalestineSpeak #NotAnotherBomb.”
In comments to Al Jazeera, Alawieh emphasized, “the Palestinian speaker situation is a mistake on the party’s end.” He and fellow activists held a sit-in outside the convention venue to protest the decision.
In a statement on Instagram, the group announced, “We cannot in good conscience continue Muslim Women for Harris-Walz, in light of this new information from the Uncommitted movement, that VP Harris’ team declined their request to have a Palestinian American speaker take the stage at the DNC.”
They added, “We pray that the DNC and VP Harris team makes the right decision before this convention is over. For the sake of each of us.”
According to the Washington Post, Democratic leadership expressed concerns that a pro-Palestinian speech might “threaten the unity” showcased at the convention, although no specific justification was provided for the refusal.
During her speech at the DNC on Thursday night, Harris remarked that the White House was “working around the clock” to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas and to finalize a “ceasefire deal.” Concurrently, she reaffirmed her commitment that she “will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.”
Harris emerged as the Democratic candidate after US President Joe Biden exited the race last month. She is set to face Republican nominee Donald Trump on Election Day in November.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News