A group called “Muslim Women for Harrs-Walz” is disbanding after the Democratic National Convention said it would not feature a Palestinian speaker.
The DNC did, however, feature the family of an Israeli hostage.
Uncommitted delegates requested that Abbas Alawieh, a delegate from Michigan, be given the opportunity to speak at the DNC. The request was denied.
“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 on social media.
“The family of the Israeli Hostage that was on the stage tonight, has shown more empathy towards Palestinian Americans and Palestinians, than our candidate or the DNC has,” the statement continued. “This is a terrible message to send to Democrats. Palestinians have the right to speak about Palestine. 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.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called for the inclusion of a Palestinian speaker.
“Just as we must honor the humanity of hostages, so too must we center the humanity of the 40,000 Palestinians killed under Israeli bombardment,” she wrote on X. “To deny that story is to participate in the dehumanization of Palestinians. The @DNC must change course and affirm our shared humanity.”
The Uncommitted National Movement criticized the DNC, saying the failure to approve “even a single Palestinian American speaker among the dozens of speakers on the convention stage sends a troubling message to our anti-war voters, suggesting they aren’t truly included in this party.”
