Less than an hour before the parents of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin addressed the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, the leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement praised the DNC’s decision to give the family a platform — but asked, again, that a Palestinian-American Democrat be offered the same opportunity.
The Uncommitted National Movement expressed strong support for the family being given a speaking slot. Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the group and uncommitted delegate from Michigan, highlighted the importance of equal recognition for Israeli and Palestinian lives within the Democratic Party's platform.
Uncommitted has been engaged in negotiations with DNC and Harris officials for over a month, presenting a series of demands that include policy requests such as a US arms embargo of Israel. Additionally, the group has sought more inclusive representation at the convention, including the opportunity to speak.
Despite their efforts, the requests made by the Uncommitted National Movement have not been granted thus far. While the group was permitted to host a panel on Palestinian rights at the DNC, they have not been included in the official convention programming.
Alawieh emphasized the group's persistent requests for a speaker, having communicated their desire to Vice President Harris' close advisers and top DNC leaders multiple times throughout the week. The urgency of the situation was underscored by Alawieh's statement that time was running out, and efforts to secure a speaking opportunity continued.
Recent protests against Israel's military actions in response to Hamas attacks on October 7 have sparked nationwide demonstrations calling for an immediate ceasefire. The protests have drawn attention for instances of antisemitism, with some demonstrators expressing support for Hamas, prompting condemnation from the Biden administration.
