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OPINION: This article reflects commentary that may express the author’s views.
A progressive coalition has criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party during its recent convention, withdrawing support amidst rising tensions.
The Uncommitted National Movement, which champions Palestinian rights and advocates for a ceasefire with Hamas, expressed its disappointment on social media, revealing that a coalition of Muslim women supporting the Harris-Walz ticket has rescinded its endorsement.
Though Muslim Women for Harris-Walz does not officially represent the campaign, it had anticipated that the Democratic ticket would include a Palestinian speaker at the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, where thousands of demonstrators gathered.
Following the Democratic Party’s rejection of their request to address the convention, the group resolved to disband.
“In light of recent developments from the Uncommitted movement that indicate VP Harris’ team declined to provide a platform for a Palestinian American speaker at the DNC, we cannot in good conscience continue as Muslim Women for Harris-Walz,” the organization stated on social media.
“The family of the Israeli hostage who spoke tonight has shown more empathy toward Palestinian Americans than our own candidate or the DNC. This sends a confusing and distressing message to Democrats. Palestinians deserve a voice in this discourse. We hope the DNC and VP Harris reconsider their position before this convention concludes, for everyone’s sake,” the statement emphasized.
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— Uncommitted National Movement 🌺 (@uncommittedmvmt) August 22, 2024
This development poses a challenge to Harris’s initiatives aimed at unifying the diverging groups of progressive Jewish and pro-Palestinian factions within the Democratic Party.
The attack initiated by Hamas on October 7th, resulting in substantial loss of life, has exacerbated divisions and fueled discourse about the appropriate timing and manner of advocating for Palestinian issues under such circumstances. The Israeli counterattacks, which inflicted considerable civilian casualties in Gaza, have triggered anti-Israel protests on college campuses and outside the Democratic National Convention this week.
During the Democratic state primary elections, the Uncommitted movement garnered support from about 15% of Democratic voters opposing President Joe Biden’s nomination for a second term across various states. This protest sentiment underscores a marked dissatisfaction with his persistent backing of military assistance to Israel amid ongoing conflicts, particularly among younger and more progressive demographics.
Following a tumultuous initial day of protests, which involved demonstrators breaching security barriers and accessing restricted areas, the protests by the third night remained largely peaceful yet impactful. Observers have speculated that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a practicing Jew, may have been sidelined as a potential vice-presidential candidate due to fears that his presence could further strain relations with pro-Palestinian factions.
In the interim, former President Donald Trump seems to have regained ground in polling following an initial boost in support for Harris after President Joe Biden’s surprising withdrawal from the reelection race in July.
Despite this, Harris has received favorable coverage from most mainstream media outlets in the past month, which typically lean left in their editorial perspectives, while Trump’s portrayal remains largely critical.
According to Axios, former polling data suggested Harris led Trump in key battleground states including Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Moreover, a New York Times/Siena College poll highlighted last week indicated that Harris had a slight advantage in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
However, a more recent survey released by Navigator Research points to a much tighter race, indicating that the competition is nearly a dead heat in key states. Trump holds a minimal lead of one point in Arizona (46% to 45%) and two points in Pennsylvania (46% to 44%), while the remaining battleground states remain closely contested.
The Navigator research results align with the RealClearPolitics polling average among crucial states, including Nevada and Georgia, showing a competitive electoral landscape as the election approaches.
