The Democratic National Convention in Chicago has announced its speaker list, which includes prominent figures from the Democratic Party such as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. However, one notable absence from the lineup is any Palestinian American voices.
Uncommitted Democratic delegates and political leaders, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, are urging DNC officials to rectify this omission by including two Palestinian American speakers on the convention’s main stage to address the ongoing war on Gaza.
The Uncommitted National Movement has demanded that Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a pediatric intensive care physician who works with Doctors Without Borders and has treated patients in Gaza, be given a speaking slot at the convention. The group is also pushing for a second speaking slot to be given to an as-yet-unnamed Palestinian American speaker.
Several Palestinian American Democratic leaders have been proposed as potential speakers, including Illinois state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, Georgia state Rep. Ruwa Romman, Colorado state Rep. Iman Jodeh, and Virginia Delegate Sam Rasoul. However, DNC officials have yet to announce their decision on whether to include these requested speakers.
Waleed Shahid, a Democratic strategist advising the Uncommitted movement, has been proposing names of possible Palestinian American speakers to DNC officials multiple times a day. However, there has been no response from the DNC so far.
While there was a panel discussion on Palestinian human rights at the convention, it was seen as insufficient by those advocating for Palestinian American voices on the main stage. James Zogby, founder and director of the Arab American Institute, who was a panelist in the Palestinian human rights session, emphasized that the panel was not an alternative to having a speaker on the main stage.
The convention will feature a wide array of speakers, including family members of American hostages captured by Hamas, who will be present during President Joe Biden’s speech. However, the Uncommitted movement argues that prioritizing one community’s pain over another goes against the party’s statement that Israelis and Palestinians are equally valued.
The lack of response from the DNC so far has raised concerns that the party officials may be stalling before ultimately denying the request for Palestinian American speakers. The Uncommitted movement wants the DNC to listen to their requests and consider them important, as they seek real change in the U.S. stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The push for Palestinian speakers at the convention highlights divisions within the Democratic Party over the U.S. stance on Israel’s war in Gaza. The Uncommitted National Movement includes Democratic delegates from various states who marked “uncommitted” during primary elections as a protest against Biden’s policy on Gaza.
Advocates of an arms embargo on Israel point to the Leahy Law, which prohibits U.S. assistance to foreign security forces that have committed gross violations of human rights. The Uncommitted movement wants Vice President Harris to support a policy that stops supplying weapons used to kill civilians.
Organizers, including the Coalition to March on the DNC, are expected to lead large Palestinian solidarity protests outside the convention. Concerns about police violence toward demonstrations have been raised, as protesters arrested during pro-Palestinian protests last year sued Washington, D.C., police over violent law enforcement responses.
In conclusion, the push to include Palestinian American voices on the DNC main stage continues, with the Uncommitted National Movement demanding representation and a change in U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The absence of a response from the DNC has raised concerns among advocates, who hope for a positive outcome that reflects the party’s commitment to equality and justice.