CHICAGO (NewsNation) — A group of 30 uncommitted delegates demanded the Democratic National Convention schedule a Palestinian-American speaker Thursday night, setting a 6 p.m. CT deadline, but the request was not met at the deadline.
After the deadline came and went, the group called for a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris by Sept. 15 Thursday evening.
“There are forces within Democratic Party leadership who do not want us to talk about Palestinian human rights. But that’s not sustainable. This is a watershed moment,” organizer Abbas Alawieh said.
The group mobilized the impromptu sit-in outside the United Center after 8 p.m. Wednesday that lasted into most of the day Thursday. They said they negotiated with multiple members of Harris’ staff and lawmakers but were not given their ask of a Palestinian American speaker at the convention.
“It is outrageous. It is anti-Palestinian racism to not allow the voices of those suffering in these dark moments, when 40,000 people have been killed, to not allow those stories to be heard on a stage in this moment is unbelievable to me,” said June Rose, the sole uncommitted delegate from Rhode Island.
Some delegates slept on the sidewalk in protest of the decision but also in the hopes that the party would change its mind and give a five-minute slot to a Palestinian American.
“Can you imagine if it was anyone else? I don’t remember a DNC where they said no Irish Americans will be speaking at the convention. I don’t remember them saying ‘Italian Americans? Not at this convention.’ I’m Jewish. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I went to the DNC and they said, ‘No Jews this year are speaking,’” Rose said.
The uncommitted delegates claimed that Democratic Party leadership wanted to keep attention on Harris’ speech on the last night and that there was no time to add a speaker to the current lineup.
The DNC did not immediately return a request for comment by NewsNation.
In response to the uncommitted delegates’ request, Michael Tyler, the communications director for Harris’ campaign, said the campaign was proud of the conversations they’ve had about the conflict in Gaza, PBS News Hour reported. He added Harris will “relentlessly” fight to end the violence in Gaza with a ceasefire.
Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., who was among a series of lawmakers who visited with and offered support to the group Thursday, called on lawmakers set to speak Thursday night to give up their time for a Palestinian American voice.
“I’m asking any member of Congress who is speaking tonight or anyone who is speaking tonight, will you make a decision that it’s about humanity and not about me,” Bush said.
After Bush lost earlier this summer in the Missouri primary, she blamed a Jewish super PAC for supporting her challenger.
The group of delegates said they had been in talks for weeks leading up to the convention but were not given a firm yes or no until Wednesday.
The uncommitted delegates say they want the Harris campaign to include an immediate cease-fire and arms embargo in her platform before they can commit to her.
Protests have erupted across the country by those opposing the war, which also includes movements instructing voters to hold their vote in protest.
More than 700,000 Democrats voted against Biden when he was running by choosing options such as “uncommitted,” with others protesting in other states through write-ins, blank ballots, votes for other candidates and other means.
Some of the delegates say they were happy to see Biden step down from the election in the hopes that Harris will take a different stance.
