Inside Night 4 of the DNC Was a Dance Party. Outside Was a Protest After the DNC Denied a Palestinian Woman a Speaking Spot.
Hours before Democrats officially nominated Kamala Harris, the DNC and her campaign said they wouldn't give Palestinian-American woman, Georgia Rep. Ruwa Romman, a speaking spot.
Photo: Getty Images Politics Democratic National Convention
On Thursday night, Democrats celebrated Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepting the Democratic presidential nomination on Day 4 of the DNC in Chicago. Following rousing speeches from Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts earlier in the evening, Chicago’s DJ Metro played anthems like “I Gotta Feeling” and “Celebration.” The jumbotron in the center of the United Center showed delegates and attendees smiling, wearing white to honor women’s suffrage, and dancing their hearts out.
The scene was celebratory and joyful, and in stark contrast to what was taking place right outside the entrance to the United Center, where pro-Palestine protesters and uncommitted delegates continued to stage a sit-in, which began Wednesday night after the DNC told the delegates they wouldn’t allow a Palestinian American to speak on stage. The final night of the convention only built upon this offense, which, among its long list of speakers, included former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, another sheriff, and a Ronald Reagan admirer.
Specifically, uncommitted delegates advocated for Georgia state Rep. Ruwa Romman, a Palestinian American and committed Democrat, to give a speech on party unity and peace. On Wednesday night, after learning the DNC rejected their request, Romman said, “I do not understand how there’s room for an anti-choice Republican but not me in our party.”
Uncommitted delegates are now asking Harris to meet with them and Palestinian-American families who have lost loved ones to the genocide by September 15. “We invite Vice President Harris to meet with Uncommitted leaders and directly impacted Palestinian families by September 15th to discuss the need to stop sending weapons that the Israeli government is using to kill and harm civilians and destroy Palestinian society,” Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement and a Michigan delegate, said in a statement shared with Jezebel. “The Vice President’s team must not miss this opportunity to engage with Palestinian Americans, who represent a critical voice in our democracy and party.”