Pro-Palestinian ‘uncommitted’ movement at an impasse with top Democrats as DNC begins
- Leaders say the movement is ‘a way for protesters outside to be able to share their frustration with the [Democratic] party’
Of the thousands of delegates expected to gather on Monday at the Democratic National Convention, just 36 will belong to the “uncommitted” movement sparked by dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Gaza war.
But that small core has outsized influence.
Anger over US backing for Israel’s offensive in Gaza could generate unwelcome images for convention organisers, with raucous protests expected outside and potentially inside the Chicago arena where Harris will accept the nomination on Thursday.
Top Democrats have spent weeks meeting with “uncommitted” voters and their allies – including a previously unreported sit-down between Vice-President Kamala Harris and the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan – in an effort to respond to criticism in important swing states like Michigan, which has a significant Arab American population.
Months of meetings and phone calls between pro-Palestinian activists and the Harris campaign have fallen into an effective impasse. The activists want Harris to endorse an arms embargo to Israel and a permanent ceasefire. Harris has supported Biden’s negotiations for a ceasefire but rejected an arms embargo.
Rima Mohammad, one of Michigan’s two “uncommitted” delegates, said she sees the convention as a chance to share their movement’s concerns with the party leadership.