Democrats Refuse To Let Palestinian Americans Speak at the DNC

Members of the Uncommitted movement have been pushing for a Palestinian speaker but were told no

The Democratic Party has refused to allow a Palestinian American to speak at the Democratic National Convention despite pressure from delegates.

The request for a Palestinian to speak at the DNC was made by members of the Uncommitted National Movement, who represent hundreds of thousands of people who voted “Uncommitted” in Democratic primaries to protest President Biden’s support for the genocidal war in Gaza.

Uncommitted delegates proposed several speakers, including Palestinian Americans and Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, who volunteered at a hospital in Gaza and shared the horrors that she witnessed at an event on the sidelines of the DNC.

Abbas Alawieh, leader of the Uncommitted movement, said Democratic Party leadership said “no” to the speaking request. Uncommitted delegates staged a sit-in on Wednesday to protest the decision, and are still pushing for a speaker for Thursday, which is the final day of the DNC.

Pro-Palestinian protesters stage a sit-in outside the venue on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center, in Chicago, Illinois, US, August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Vincent Alban

Ryan Grim, a reporter for Drop Site News, wrote on X that the DNC had told “Uncommitted delegates that no Palestinian will be allowed to speak from the stage, even with a vetted speech.”

The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American being held hostage in Gaza, spoke at the DNC on Wednesday, which was supported by the Uncommitted movement. They called for a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.

Despite the pressure the Democratic Party is facing to alter policy toward Israel, its new platform makes an “ironclad” commitment to continue providing military aid to Israel.

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both claim they’re working for a ceasefire, but there’s no sign the administration is willing to put real pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a deal. In the meantime, the genocidal slaughter continues, and dozens of Palestinians, including many children, are being killed by Israeli strikes every day.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.