Pro-Palestinian Organizations Issue Additional Demands to Democratic Lawmakers
Four progressive organizations addressed a letter to the Democratic National Committee outlining their requests, indicating that the divisions over the Israel-Hamas conflict remain unresolved.
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Four months after Kamala Harris' defeat, Democrats face ongoing challenges regarding their stance on Gaza. A group of four progressive advocacy organizations has sent a letter to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), urging better engagement with pro-Palestinian voters. This indicates that the internal division over the Israel-Hamas conflict may extend into the upcoming midterms.
The letter, addressed to DNC Chair Ken Martin and Executive Director Roger Lau, comes from the IMEU Policy Project, IfNotNow, Gen-Z for Change, and Justice Democrats. They express concerns that the Harris campaign's policy decisions and voter outreach efforts “villainize” and “ignore” Democratic voters opposed to Israel’s actions in Gaza, advocating for the Biden administration to reconsider military aid to Israel.
The campaign was reportedly limiting follow-ups to individuals who had inquired about Gaza during outreach efforts, as disclosed by a previously anonymous Harris campaign organizer. The advocacy groups seek improved data collection on this matter and request an examination of the Harris campaign's actions as part of the post-election review promised by Martin. They are looking to meet with him before the release of the report to share their experiences regarding voter engagement on Gaza.
In their letter, they also urge Martin to evaluate whether the positions taken by Harris and President Joe Biden on Israel and Palestine have alienated voters. They reference post-election polling from IMEU and YouGov that indicates “ending Israel’s violence in Gaza” was the primary concern for nearly 30 percent of voters who supported Biden in 2020 but chose someone else over Harris in 2024, with the economy as a close second issue.
The groups are also pushing for a reduction in the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) by advocating for a ban on super PAC spending in Democratic primaries, a move that signals potential future intra-party disputes over Israel policy.
The DNC did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the letter.
Last year, pro-Palestinian protests surrounding the Biden administration's handling of the conflict led to the emergence of a group of “uncommitted” voters, causing a divide among traditionally Democratic demographics and negatively impacting Harris in several Arab American communities. Community leaders have suggested that strategic mistakes were made by Harris, including her refusal to offer a speaking opportunity to a Palestinian American at the Democratic National Convention and her decision to silence protesters at campaign rallies who challenged her alignment with Biden on Israel.
“The chasm between the Democratic base and the Harris campaign could have been narrowed and course-corrected months prior to the election,” the advocacy groups stated in their letter to Martin. “The pattern of disregarding and ignoring the issues Democratic voters care about, may it be rising costs of living or ending U.S. complicity in war crimes abroad, will not lead to winning elections.”
The letter follows the arrest of a Palestinian graduate student involved in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, reigniting discussions around immigration, free speech, and anti-war demonstrations on college campuses. Since Donald Trump’s election in November, pro-Palestinian organizations in the U.S. have been navigating the challenges posed by an administration critical of their movement.
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Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
The letter, addressed to DNC Chair Ken Martin and Executive Director Roger Lau, comes from the IMEU Policy Project, IfNotNow, Gen-Z for Change, and Justice Democrats. They express concerns that the Harris campaign's policy decisions and voter outreach efforts “villainize” and “ignore” Democratic voters opposed to Israel’s actions in Gaza, advocating for the Biden administration to reconsider military aid to Israel.
The campaign was reportedly limiting follow-ups to individuals who had inquired about Gaza during outreach efforts, as disclosed by a previously anonymous Harris campaign organizer. The advocacy groups seek improved data collection on this matter and request an examination of the Harris campaign's actions as part of the post-election review promised by Martin. They are looking to meet with him before the release of the report to share their experiences regarding voter engagement on Gaza.
In their letter, they also urge Martin to evaluate whether the positions taken by Harris and President Joe Biden on Israel and Palestine have alienated voters. They reference post-election polling from IMEU and YouGov that indicates “ending Israel’s violence in Gaza” was the primary concern for nearly 30 percent of voters who supported Biden in 2020 but chose someone else over Harris in 2024, with the economy as a close second issue.
The groups are also pushing for a reduction in the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) by advocating for a ban on super PAC spending in Democratic primaries, a move that signals potential future intra-party disputes over Israel policy.
The DNC did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the letter.
Last year, pro-Palestinian protests surrounding the Biden administration's handling of the conflict led to the emergence of a group of “uncommitted” voters, causing a divide among traditionally Democratic demographics and negatively impacting Harris in several Arab American communities. Community leaders have suggested that strategic mistakes were made by Harris, including her refusal to offer a speaking opportunity to a Palestinian American at the Democratic National Convention and her decision to silence protesters at campaign rallies who challenged her alignment with Biden on Israel.
“The chasm between the Democratic base and the Harris campaign could have been narrowed and course-corrected months prior to the election,” the advocacy groups stated in their letter to Martin. “The pattern of disregarding and ignoring the issues Democratic voters care about, may it be rising costs of living or ending U.S. complicity in war crimes abroad, will not lead to winning elections.”
The letter follows the arrest of a Palestinian graduate student involved in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, reigniting discussions around immigration, free speech, and anti-war demonstrations on college campuses. Since Donald Trump’s election in November, pro-Palestinian organizations in the U.S. have been navigating the challenges posed by an administration critical of their movement.
Like this reporting? Subscribe to PMG Pro.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
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