DETROIT: At a Michigan rally on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris faced vocal opposition from protesters who were chanting against the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The protesters accused the U.S. administration of supporting what they described as "genocide" in the region. In response, Harris firmly addressed the crowd, urging them to remain quiet unless they "want Donald Trump to win."
Earlier in the day, before the rally in Detroit, Harris had a brief meeting with leaders from the Uncommitted National Movement. This movement gained attention during the February primary for its mass protest vote against President Joe Biden's stance on the Gaza war. The group was advocating for changes in U.S. foreign policy, particularly an arms embargo on Israel.
During the rally, the protesters continued their chants, saying, "Kamala, you can’t hide, we won’t vote for genocide." Harris, while acknowledging the importance of democracy and the voices of all citizens, insisted on continuing her speech. She emphasized that any disruption would only play into the hands of Donald Trump, the former president who could become the Democratic nominee's main opponent in the upcoming election.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has deeply affected communities in suburban Detroit, especially in Dearborn, which has the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the country. Dearborn is part of the congressional district represented by Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian American in Congress. Tlaib has been outspoken in her criticism of Biden’s support for Israel and was instrumental in organizing a significant "uncommitted" vote during the Michigan primary.
In her meeting with Abbas Alawieh and Layla Elabed, co-founders of the Uncommitted National Movement, Harris reportedly expressed a willingness to continue dialogue with communities concerned about U.S. policies in the Middle East. The two activists were invited to meet with Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as a gesture of openness and willingness to listen to diverse perspectives.
Alawieh noted that he appreciated Harris’s willingness to engage, but stressed the need for concrete actions that would demonstrate a shift in U.S. policy on Gaza. Elabed, who was visibly emotional during the meeting, conveyed the anguish of her community members who are losing family members in the conflict. She urged Harris to take steps that could help save lives.
The Uncommitted National Movement is pushing for representation at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this month. They have secured 30 delegates who will attend the convention as "uncommitted," reflecting the dissatisfaction within certain voter groups. Michigan, a key swing state, saw over 100,000 residents vote "uncommitted" in the primary, signaling potential challenges for the Democratic Party in maintaining a unified front in the upcoming election.
Harris’s recent decision to choose Tim Walz as her running mate underscores the campaign's focus on securing votes in the Midwest. However, Walz's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict remains unclear, leaving some questions unanswered about the direction of the campaign's foreign policy.
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