‘Muslim Women for Harris’ disbands after Palestinian exclusion from Democratic National Convention
Chicago (Quds News Network) – Muslim Women for Harris, a group supporting US Vice President Kamala Harris, announced its disbandment on the third night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), citing the campaign’s refusal to allow a Palestinian speaker on the main stage. The statement was released in solidarity with the Uncommitted National Movement, which staged a sit-in outside the convention center in protest of the exclusion.
The sit-in, attended by notable figures such as Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and with support from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez via FaceTime, highlighted the frustration of Uncommitted delegates, who had won 30 seats at the convention. Despite ongoing negotiations, the Democratic National Committee ultimately rejected their request to feature a Palestinian American speaker, leading to the sit-in and the withdrawal of support from Muslim Women for Harris.
“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,” the group’s statement read.
This comes after Kamala Harris’s campaign invited the family of Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin to speak, a decision supported by Uncommitted delegates. However, they called for equal representation for Palestinian voices, emphasizing the need to reject a hierarchy of human value and ensure all perspectives are heard.
“Uncommitted delegates urge the Democratic party to reject a hierarchy of human value by ensuring Palestinian voices are heard on the main stage,” the Uncommitted statement read. “We are learning that Israeli hostages’ families will be speaking from the main stage. We strongly support that decision and also strongly hope that we will also be hearing from Palestinians who’ve endured the largest civilian death toll since 1948.”
The Democratic convention has seen calls for a ceasefire in Gaza met with applause, but critics argue the party’s actions have not matched its rhetoric. Muslim Women for Harris’s statement criticized the DNC, saying, “Palestinians have the right to speak about Palestine.”
The decision to exclude a Palestinian speaker has sparked debate within the party, particularly given Chicago’s significant Palestinian community.
As the Democratic National Convention continues, the sit-in by Uncommitted delegates highlights the ongoing tension within the party regarding its stance on Israel’s genocide in Gaza, emphasizing the call for equal representation and recognition of Palestinian voices.
