Vice President Kamala Harris was denied of endorsement by a national organization, the Uncommitted National Movement, during her recent plans to tour Michigan. This comes as a result of her apparent failure to prioritize concerns about United States’ position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, specifically, the alleged grim circumstances of Palestinian American families in Gaza and the continuing U.S. support involving armament consignments to Israel.
There was a proposition from the Uncommitted National Movement for a potential sit-down between Harris and bereaved Palestinian American families, also to facilitate a dialogue about the organization’s ceaseless demand for the termination of weapon shipments to Israel. However, a deafening silence was maintained from Harris’ camp leading to the loss of the endorsement. Disappointment loomed among the members of the organization with Harris failing to even lay out a firm campaigning statement regarding U.S. and international human rights.
Sharing a stage with well-known personality Oprah Winfrey in a Michigan suburb, Harris expected to seize her third campaign tour after her Presidential race entry. Understanding the significance of Michigan as a critical election battleground, and its hosting one of the most substantial numbers of Arab American voters in the U.S., her decision to ignore the Uncommitted National Movement may have severe electoral implications.
During the primary election, more than a hundred thousand people from Michigan alone expressed their discontentment towards the present administration, particularly President Biden, by casting ‘uncommitted’ votes. Mimicking this sentiment, several more hundreds of thousands from other parts of the country followed suit, building up a wave of dissent via protest votes.
Interestingly, while the organization did not support Harris, it was vocal in its stand against the former President Donald J. Trump. According to their statement, they accused Trump of boasting about exacerbating the hardships faced by Palestinians and his promises to stifle pro-Palestinian activism within the U.S.
It is important to note that the organization’s lack of endorsement for Harris wasn’t a surprising revelation, given the visible strain in their relationship. The Uncommitted National Movement leaders were left high and dry in their quest for a discussion centering around an embargo on arms, where instead of a constructive dialogue, her campaign downplayed the interaction.
Adding to the tension, the Democratic National Convention organizers dismissed the organization’s proposal for a speaker of Palestinian descent at their event. This led to a protest, with disgruntled Uncommitted supporters conducting a sit-in outside the convention venue.
The non-endorsement decision for Harris by the Uncommitted National Movement is indicative of the growing unease and disillusionment among certain Democratic voters—an audience who were previously hopeful that a Harris administration would catalyze meaningful changes in the U.S. approach towards complex Israel issues.
The movement’s announcement didn’t shy away from mentioning Harris’ engagement with prominent Republicans, criticising her campaign for its support from these unlikely quarters. According to their statement, Harris’ campaign was guilty of ‘attempting to win over figures like Dick Cheney, while simultaneously driving away disenchanted antiwar supporters, causing them to consider alternative party options’.
Talking about their consistent support and advocacy even in violent and destructive times, the Uncommitted National Movement proudly stated that their motivation was to save lives rather than endorsing any specific candidates.
On the other hand, among the top brass of the Biden administration, Harris has shown an iota of sympathy for the Palestinians, and somewhat assertive in her criticism of Israel. Yet she remains hesitant to manifest those sentiments into action or a concrete shift in the U.S. foreign policy if she ascends to the presidency.
Harris, in a recent engagement with the National Association of Black Journalists, was questioned about her stand on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. However, she tended to mirror the current positions of the Biden administration, only adding more ambiguity.
On further probing about arms shipments, Harris concurred with President Biden’s decision to halt shipments of massive bombs. However, she refrained from revealing her individual stance on the entire war scenario, choosing instead to redirect the conversation towards the administration’s ongoing difficulties in brokering a deal.
Amid the discussion surrounding the war, Harris persistently emphasized the urgency to negotiate a truce between Israel and Hamas for the safe exchange of hostages held captive in Gaza. But without explicitly outlining any comprehensive plan or action, one is left to wonder about the seriousness of her intent.
‘We need to get this deal done, and we need to get it done immediately,’ was the elusive stance maintained by Harris on the matter. However, without any concrete plans or policies unfolded from her side, her words seem to lack conviction, adding to the growing discontentment among voters.