Muslim Women for Harris-Walz has disbanded following the Democratic National Committee’s refusal to grant a Palestinian American speaker a slot at essential events.
At a Glance
- “Muslim Women for Harris-Walz” disbanded after a Palestinian American speaker was denied a slot at the Democratic National Convention (DNC)
- Uncommitted delegates staged a sit-in outside the United Center in Chicago after their request for a speaking slot was denied
- Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement, received a call from a convention official denying the request
- The group aims to get Vice President Kamala Harris to endorse an arms embargo to Israel and support a permanent ceasefire
Muslim Women for Harris-Walz Disbands Over Exclusion
The advocacy group “Muslim Women for Harris-Walz,” a fervent supporter during the 2020 elections, decided to dissolve after repeatedly being denied a speaking slot by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This exclusion led members to feel their concerns were trivialized.
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The final straw came when the DNC denied a request for a Palestinian American speaker to address the convention. This consistent exclusion led the group to believe their voices were disregarded by the Democratic Party.
‘Muslim Women for Harris-Walz’ says they can’t continue their group in light of the DNC’s refusal to include a Palestinian-American speaker at DNC convention in Chicago. Posted late last night: pic.twitter.com/NHhJNAJzzo
— Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) August 22, 2024
Protests and Calls for Change
Following the exclusion, uncommitted delegates—who emerged during Democratic primary contests opposing Biden’s support for Israel—staged a sit-in outside the United Center in Chicago. Representative from Georgia, Ruwa Romman, expressed frustration at her exclusion, feeling betrayed by her party.
Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement, reported receiving a call from a convention official denying the speaking request. The group criticized the DNC for not including a Palestinian voice, comparing it to the empathy shown towards an Israeli hostage’s family.
Group: “We cannot in good conscience continue Muslim Women for Harris-Walz in light of this information from the Uncommitted that VP Harris’ team declined their request to have a Palestinian American speaker take the stage at the DNC"https://t.co/KfgCOSGF9q
— Azi™️ (@Azi) August 22, 2024
Divisions Within the Democratic Party
The divide within the party widened as some officials and groups, such as the United Auto Workers union, supported having a Palestinian speaker while others resisted. Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib criticized the DNC, calling for shared humanity and to stop erasing Palestinian voices. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also emphasized the need to honor Palestinian humanity.
Despite the inclusion of a forum on the plight of Palestinians, the absence of a Palestinian speaker at the main event sparked accusations of double standards. Efforts by Vice President Kamala Harris to address pro-Palestinian protesters at a Detroit rally were also unsatisfactory to many voters.
