Dozens of Democratic officials are demanding Kamala Harris ’s campaign and Democratic National Convention organizers let a Palestinian American speak on the stage on the final night of the event . Roughly three dozen “uncommitted” delegates — sent to the DNC by voters in primaries who selected “uncommitted” in protest of the Biden administration’s support for Israel ’s war in Gaza — have successfully recruited more than 200 Harris delegates to support calls for an immediate ceasefire and stop the flow of US-supplied bombs into Israel. But Uncommitted National Movement leaders announced on Wednesday that the DNC rejected their request for a speaking slot.
A petition urging the DNC to reverse course has collected more than 90 signatures from Democratic elected officials and party chairs. Including a Palestinian speaker would “not only honor our commitment to inclusivity but also provide an opportunity for these deeply personal and painful narratives to be heard,” the petition reads. “Just as we have collectively mourned and stood in solidarity with hostage families who have endured unimaginable grief, we must also offer compassion and understanding to Palestinians who have suffered under indiscriminate bombing.
” After vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s keynote speech on Wednesday night, uncommitted delegates and supporters staged a sit-in demonstration outside Chicago’s United Center. Demonstrators included Georgia state representative Ruwa Rom.