The campaign group Muslim Women for Harris has disbanded following reports that pro-Palestine speakers were denied a platform at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.
Pro-Palestinian activists have been demanding that US Vice President Kamala Harris commit to cutting military aid to Israel and push more urgently for a ceasefire in Gaza. They had planned to voice their position at the DNC, which wrapped up on Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, Abbas Alawieh, one of the leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement, said Democrats had refused to allow Palestinian-Americans to speak at the DNC. “We think that’s unacceptable. We think that this is the party where we shouldn’t be silencing people’s voices,” he said in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Alawieh argued that “the Palestinian speaker situation is a mistake on the party’s end.” He and other activists launched a sit-in outside the convention venue to protest the decision.
“We cannot in good conscience continue Muslim Women for Harris-Walz, in light of this new information from the Uncommitted movement, that VP Harris’ team declined their request to have a Palestinian American speaker take the stage at the DNC,” the group wrote in a statement on Instagram.
“We pray that the DNC and VP Harris team makes the right decision before this convention is over. For the sake of each of us,” it added.
According to the Washington Post, the Democratic leadership was concerned that a pro-Palestinian speech would “threaten the unity” displayed at the convention. No specific reason was given for the denial, however, the newspaper said.
During her DNC speech on Thursday night, Harris said that the White House was “working around the clock” to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas and to reach a “ceasefire deal.”
At the same time, the Democratic presidential candidate reaffirmed that she “will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.”
Harris became the Democratic candidate after US President Joe Biden quit the race last month. She will face Republican nominee Donald Trump on Election Day in November.