Arab-American speaker request 'denied' at Democratic National Convention

'Uncommitted' movement delegates hold sit-in outside United Centre in Chicago for Palestinians to be included

A group of 'uncommitted' delegates hold a sit-in outside the Democratic National Convention to protest against the lack of a Palestinian-American speaker. EPA

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The “uncommitted” voter movement, which is calling for a Gaza ceasefire, said on Wednesday night that the Democratic National Committee declined its request for a member of the Arab-American community to speak at the party convention in Chicago.

“The answer is no,” Michigan uncommitted delegate Abbas Alawieh told journalists outside the United Centre.

“I said, 'No is unacceptable. No is unacceptable. We must be heard. This level of suppression is unacceptable'.”

The group had been asking Democratic Party leaders to include a Palestinian-American on the speakers' list, to highlight the Gaza issue on the main stage, suggesting uncommitted delegates or a doctor who had worked in the enclave.

Georgia state representative Ruwa Romman, the first Muslim and Palestinian woman elected in the state, was a name repeatedly mentioned as an option.

Mr Alawieh said that members were fighting for a wider policy change such as a US arms embargo on Israel, but for now only wanted an Arab-American voice to be heard at the convention.

“If you need more names, we'll send you more names. We're being very reasonable,” he said.

Thousands of demonstrators outside the convention hall have gathered since Monday to protest against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris's staunch support for Israel amid the war in Gaza.

The movement with more than 30 delegates has argued that it is conducting its activism in a different way, with a political strategy to work inside within the Democratic Party.

“I'm an uncommitted delegate. I was sent here to do the work on behalf of those uncommitted votes who specifically voted uncommitted because they need a change in the Gaza policy,” Mr Alawieh said.

He also referred to his childhood experience of Israeli bombardment in Lebanon.

But Mr Alawieh said he is “out of options from my position as a delegate” and would be conducting a sit-in outside the convention hall until the DNC grants the group's request.

“I just intend to stay here until I get a call from the DNC telling me that they won't suppress the voices of Palestinian children, that they will accept our very humble request,” he said.

In a post on X, he added: “I’m waiting for the call from the Vice President’s team. I can’t go anywhere until the Vice President agrees to having a Palestinian-American speak on the stage. I’m waiting for the call.”

The DNC has not publicly confirmed its denial.

Before the group's announcement, the Israeli-American parents of a US hostage held by militant groups in Gaza since the Hamas-led October 7 attack took the stage.

“There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East,” Jon Polin said alongside Rachel Goldberg.

“In a competition of pain, there are no winners.”

The uncommitted movement was supportive of their stage appearance, but was hopeful for their community's inclusion.

More than 40,200 people have been killed in Gaza, health authorities say, as Israeli military operations continue and a humanitarian crisis in the enclave worsens.

Washington state uncommitted delegate Yaz Kader told The National before the DNC's decision that, while it is important to acknowledge all suffering, the party should invite a Palestinian to speak as well.

“What hurts a little bit is that we have been asking for weeks to have a Palestinian voice up there, but I would have loved to see is … that an Israeli voice of suffering is there and a Palestinian voice of suffering is there,” he told The National.

The group held a Palestinians for Human Rights panel, reportedly the first of its kind in the Democratic convention's history, while members insisted that their ask had been an Arab-American stage speaker.

Mr Kader said he agreed that there should be a conversation between the uncommitted group and the campaign of Ms Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee.

“If we want to bring this party together and respect the over 700,000 voters that voted on this issue, we need to have a conversation with her and her senior staff,” he said.