Group demands Palestinian Americans speak at DNC

Undecided delegates wearing keffiyeh scarves reading “Democrats for Palestinian Rights” demanded that a Palestinian American be given the opportunity to speak at the Democratic National Convention.

The group that gathered at a rally outside the United Center, where the DNC is being held, on Wednesday included health care workers, representatives from the Chicago Teachers Union and two congressmen who are part of “The Squad,” an informal group of progressive members of the House of Representatives.

“The Democratic Party is proud to be the party of human rights, the party of justice and the party of democracy,” said U.S. Representative Cori Bush of Missouri. “When it comes to defending Palestinian lives and ending the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the Democratic Party must uphold those same values.”

Bush lost her Democratic primary earlier this month after a pro-Israel super PAC spent millions on ads against her because of her pro-Palestinian stance. Bush on Wednesday referred to the group opposing her seat as “the pro-genocide lobby.”

US Representative Ilhan Omar from Minnesota, the other “Squad” member, joined About 40 people attended the rally. Many wore red and white badges reading “Democratic Majority for Palestine” and “Ceasefire Delegate” and shouted on the White House to impose an arms embargo on Israel.

Abbas Alawieh, an unaffiliated delegate from Michigan, said a coalition of unaffiliated delegates had submitted to the DNC a “long list of names” of potential Palestinian Americans who could speak at the DNC. He said he had not received a response from DNC organizers.

Earlier this year, an unaffiliated delegate movement formed in Michigan against President Joe Biden and his administration. military support for Israel in the war in the Gaza Strip.

“Let me be clear: When it comes to there being no place for Palestinian Americans in the Democratic Party, we have a problem,” Alawieh said.

Many speakers questioned how the US government could claim that it wanted a ceasefire while continuing to supply weapons to Israel.

“Now ask yourself, how can it be that our foreign minister comes here eleven times and begs for an end to a situation when in reality we continue to supply the bombs and weapons that are causing this situation?” Omar asked the crowd. “Where is our patriotism?”

However, Omar also stressed that she and her supporters are Democrats and that she wants to prepare the party to defeat Donald Trump in November.

Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jackson Potter also joined the calls for a ceasefire and an end to arms support for Israel.

“Public education is taking a hit right now and cuts are coming as historic COVID relief funds expire. And we are here in Chicago asking the over 80% of schools that don't have a librarian to make sure we have libraries and librarians,” he said, listing a litany of other CTU demands for schools. “We cannot do that while simultaneously spending billions of dollars to indiscriminately bomb children and families in Gaza.”

Originally published: August 21, 2024 at 3:34 pm