Staff Reports
Joe Biden’s abrupt exit from the presidential race has opened a veritable Pandora’s box of chaos for the Democratic Party, leaving Vice President Kamala Harris to take the reins amidst growing unrest from pro-Palestinian protesters. Apparently, Harris is set to inherit not just Biden’s office, but also the kettle of discontent simmering over his administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. The pro-Palestinian crowd, who have been organize protests for months aimed at the Democratic National Convention, are not about to pack it up just because they got a new face on the ticket. Spoiler alert: warm fuzzies won’t be in abundance anytime soon.
Leading the charge is the Coalition to March on the DNC, a group consisting of several organizations that have joined forces to blame not just Biden for the current war, but the entire Democratic party. As far as these organizations are concerned, Harris is simply the next top dog in the line of fire. They are planning a massive demonstration on August 19 to hold the DNC accountable for Gaza, with the sentiment that their hastily concocted plans are just as relevant despite Biden’s withdrawal. It’s as if they believe the party’s change in leadership is nothing more than swapping out a malfunctioning light bulb while the darkened room remains unchanged.
*WATCH:* Senator Marco Rubio on Sunday accused the Biden administration of leaking details of the president’s call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appease “so-called peace activists” who are actually “anti-Semites, anti-Israel” and “pro-terrorist.”
*Join a _YWN… pic.twitter.com/oCtgjoOlsO
— Matthew Feinberg (@thewebbie) April 15, 2024
As for the Abandon Biden campaign, their memo following Biden’s withdrawal only reinforces their desire to hold the party accountable for what they consider an egregiously mismanaged overseas crisis. They firmly believe that while Biden’s cognitive decline may have nudged him out of the race, the uproar over the “genocide” in Gaza should have removed him long before. With Harris now crowned as the party’s chosen one, this group is looking for her to pivot and pressure for an unconditional ceasefire. The lack of a decisive stance from Harris in the past adds fuel to their skepticism.
The tension is palpable, and folks are taking sides. Samra’a Luqman, who used to cheer for Bernie Sanders but is now contemplating a vote for Trump, feels the complexities are mind-boggling. In her eyes, Harris’s nomination could serve as a litmus test: can the Democrats mend the fences they broke with Arab-American voters? Or are they destined to keep marching on with half-baked plans? All signs point to Harris needing to hit the ground running if she wants to persuade skeptical voters that the Democrats can still keep their alliance intact.
On the sidelines, those at Behind Enemy Lines, a self-proclaimed anti-imperialist group, are just as rowdy. Their creative sticker campaign bemoans Biden’s legacy while aiming their dissatisfaction squarely at Harris, dubbing her “Killer Kamala.” It appears they don’t care much about her purportedly kinder disposition toward the Palestinian cause. It’s a bracing reminder that in the political arena, goodwill is in short supply and doesn’t buy much mileage. The rabble-rousing calls from the group signal that the road ahead for Harris will be filled with hurdles, especially with the June DNC coming up. If she can’t appease the activists, she could find herself in a political quagmire faster than one can say “high approval ratings.”
Meanwhile, in the battleground state of Michigan, Biden’s approach has so angered Arab and Muslim American voters that they chose to express their disdain by marking “uncommitted” on their ballots during the primaries. It’s a bold middle finger aimed directly at the president’s foreign policy. Participation skyrocketed as voters rejected the mainstream narrative, illustrating that Harris has a mammoth task ahead if she hopes to regain that crucial support. With the political landscape as rocky as it is, Kamala Harris will need to navigate through the minefield of evolving public expectations, all the while trying to charm a group that’s made it abundantly clear changes in leadership do not easily sway them.
