Uncommitted delegates' demand for Palestinian American speaker on DNC stage rejected

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) – A demand from delegates of the Uncommitted National Movement (UNM) for a Palestinian American to be allowed to speak on the final day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois was rejected Thursday.

"Our request of a Palestinian speaker on the DNC stage had been denied," the UNM said on X.

As Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to accept the Democrat Party's nomination for president, the delegates continued a sit-in outside the United Center, where the four-day event is being held, with the hope that the DNC would accept their request.

"Party leaders are out of step with the party base, who want peace. We slept right here because we will not let anyone suppress the Palestinian voices we would be lucky to hear from," the movement said.

The United Auto Workers (UAW), a powerful labor union, on Thursday also joined several elected Democrats and activists who requested a Palestinian American to speak from the DNC stage to unite the party.

"There are forces in the Democratic leadership who do not want us to talk about Palestinian human rights. But we will. This is a watershed moment. People all over are saying: Free Palestine!" the movement said.

Later, the delegates entered the arena hand in hand to take their places.

"We must keep up the pressure on VP Harris to take action to ensure #NotAnothetBomb. Join tens of thousands who’ve sent a message to her: turn the page on the disastrous Biden-Harris Gaza policy, save lives, stop the bombs, and unite the party," they demanded.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in over 40,200 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and nearly 93,000 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.