Notably absent from Walz’s speech was any real substance on foreign policy — including discussion of the genocide happening against Palestinians in Gaza, which uncommitted delegates and their allies have been trying to discuss for days at DNC. Indeed, most of the night, if not the week, has ignored the issue, and where it has been mentioned, Israel’s role in the genocide has been glossed over.
Uncommitted delegates in support of Palestinian liberation and an end to the genocide have requested that the DNC allow a Palestinian speaker take the podium in the United Center, to discuss a permanent ceasefire and an embargo for weapons from the U.S. to Israel, which the U.S. is legally obligated to do.
“We are learning that Israeli hostages’ families will be speaking from the main stage. 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,” read a statement from the Uncommitted National Movement account on X. “Excluding a Palestinian speaker betrays the party’s commitment in our platform to valuing Israelis and Palestinian lives equally. Vice President Harris must unite this party with a vision that fights for everyone, including Palestinians.”
A group of uncommitted delegates, joined by interfaith leaders and their allies, staged a sit-in just outside the convention hall on Wednesday night, saying they wouldn’t remove themselves from that spot until their demands for a Palestinian speaker were met.
It’s not the VPs place to introduce policy proposals, that’s the job of whoever is at the top of the ticket.
That said most Americans rank Gaza low on their list of priorities, so expect Harris to focus on issues they find important like women’s rights and housing.
It’s either important enough to take seriously, or not important enough where it can be ignored, but then you can’t complain to the people you completely dismissed when they don’t vote for you.
Not American, btw
It’s not completely ignored. Several speakers have mentioned Gaza in their remarks, including high profile speakers like AOC.
It’s not important enough to get a speaker dedicated to the issue. The same is true of most other issues.
I turned it off last night when they had someone on talking about their son who was one of the hostages.
All this time to put a name and face to one victim but not to discuss the overall tragedy that has happened and is still happening to tens of thousands.
It was extremely tone-deaf, and if they were going to represent one side of the victims they really should have done so with the innocent Palestinians caught in the middle as well.