U.S. Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris talk at the campaign bus, as Harris and her running mate Walz make a four-stop bus tour of western Pennsylvania before heading to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, in Rochester, Pennsylvania, U.S., August 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Pro-Palestinian Delegates Seek Platform Changes at Democratic National Convention

Overview

A group of Muslim delegates and their allies, critical of U.S. support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, are advocating for changes to the Democratic Party’s platform. The group, named “Delegates Against Genocide,” plans to push for an arms embargo and other amendments at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to be formally nominated for the presidency.

Planned Activities and Platform Amendments

The group intends to exercise their rights as delegates by proposing amendments to the party platform and speaking out during key convention events. While specific details of their planned actions have not been disclosed, the group has expressed a commitment to making their voices heard on the convention floor. Their proposed platform amendments include enforcing laws that prohibit military aid to entities that commit gross human rights violations.

Democratic Party Platform and Leadership Responses

The draft party platform, released in mid-July, calls for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire” in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, the platform does not address the significant number of casualties reported by Palestinian health authorities in Gaza, nor does it propose any changes to U.S. arms shipments to Israel. This stance has prompted criticism from the pro-Palestinian delegates, who argue for a more balanced approach in the platform.

President Joe Biden, who has been involved in efforts to broker a ceasefire, is scheduled to speak at the convention on Monday. Vice President Harris, who has expressed a nuanced stance on the conflict, is set to speak on Thursday. While Harris has acknowledged the suffering in Gaza, she has also reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and has not supported an arms embargo on Israel.

Impact on Democratic Unity and Voter Support

The Israel-Hamas conflict has led to a decline in support for Democrats among Muslim and Arab-American voters, who are crucial in key battleground states. Although the activists represent a small fraction of the convention’s delegates, their actions could potentially disrupt the party’s efforts to unify around Harris. Large protests are expected outside the convention, with estimates suggesting that up to 100,000 demonstrators could gather.

Additional Convention Programming

In response to the concerns raised by pro-Palestinian delegates, convention organizers have added a panel discussion on Arab and Palestinian issues to the Monday agenda, alongside a panel on antisemitism. These discussions aim to address the concerns of both Muslim and Jewish American communities, who have expressed worries about rising Islamophobia and antisemitism, respectively.