Sit-in launched at DNC after Palestinians denied speaker on main stage
The 'Uncommitted' movement launched a sit-in protest outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) after it was told that a Palestinian-American could not speak on the convention's main stage.
Lawmaker Ilhan Omar joined the group for the protest, while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called in via FaceTime.
Remarkable scenes in Chicago: Palestinian-American Tariq Habash (the first Biden appointee to resign in protest of US support for Israel’s war on Gaza) & Rep. @AOC join Uncommitted delegates via FaceTime amid DNC refusing to welcome a Palestinian voice to the stage https://t.co/s5MLMzbcZS pic.twitter.com/TCQ0wKGVtI
— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) August 22, 2024
Uncommitted asked for Tanya Haj-Hassan, a doctor who had worked in Gaza, to speak on the main stage, but the DNC only offered a panel on the sidelines of the convention.
"Uncommitted delegates urge the Democratic Party to reject a hierarchy of human value by ensuring Palestinian voices are heard on the main stage. We are learning that Israeli hostages’ families will be speaking from the main stage," the movement said earlier this week.
"We strongly support that decision and also strongly hope that we will also be hearing from Palestinians who’ve endured the largest civilian death toll since 1948."
The family of Israeli-American captive Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken prisoner by Hamas on 7 October, spoke on the main stage on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the group "Muslim Women for Harris-Walz" has announced that it was disbanding over the DNC's refusal to allow a Palestinian-American to speak on the main stage.
"Muslim Women for Harris-Walz" is disbanding over the DNC's refusal to allow a Palestinian-American on stage.
— Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) August 22, 2024
They write: "The family of the Israeli Hostage that was on the stage tonight, has shown more empathy towards Palestinian Americans and Palestinians, than our candidate… pic.twitter.com/Gc2VcHNPxn