Chicago, Illinois – President Joe Biden’s farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago was frequently interrupted by enthusiastic cheers such as “Thank you, Joe.” Outside the convention halls, thousands of demonstrators gathered with signs accusing Biden of war crimes and referring to him as “Genocide Joe” in response to his support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Biden acknowledged the protests during his speech, stating that they “have a point.” He expressed, “Many innocent people are being killed on both sides. We are working day and night, my Secretary of State, to prevent a larger war and to reunite hostages with their families, as well as to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza now to alleviate the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally, finally deliver a ceasefire and end this war.”
However, many advocates for Palestinian rights felt that Biden’s remarks fell short of the changes they seek, especially as Washington continues to supply arms and bombs to Israel, which results in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians each day.
Sabrene Odeh, an “uncommitted” delegate from the state of Washington, stated, “What will be enough is a weapons embargo [against Israel] and a ceasefire.” She added that it was “illogical” for Biden to call for a ceasefire while simultaneously arming Israel. “It is impossible to advocate for a permanent, immediate ceasefire and send those same perpetrators of genocide weapons to continue the war,” she said.
Other activists shared her concerns. Eva Borgwardt, national spokesperson for IfNotNow, a youth-led progressive Jewish group, criticized Biden’s comments, highlighting the clear contradiction between his words and actions. “It is deeply insincere for President Biden to say that the protests ‘have a point,’ after he just approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel,” Borgwardt stated.
Biden’s speech on Monday concluded the first night of the convention, a four-day event designed to celebrate and promote the candidacy of Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, ahead of the upcoming election in November. However, the devastation occurring in Gaza, where Israel has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, overshadowed the event’s festive atmosphere.
Dozens of “uncommitted” delegates at the convention were chosen by hundreds of thousands of Americans who cast protest votes in the Democratic primaries to show their opposition to Biden’s support for Israel. Jonathan Simonds, a 29-year-old uncommitted delegate from Hawaii, remarked on Monday that more young Americans are outraged by American support for Israel. “What we can do is stop sending bombs. We can stop sending weapons,” Simonds stated.
Biden and Harris have acknowledged this anger at various points in the presidential campaign. For example, after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July, Harris promised not to be “silent” in addressing Palestinian “suffering.” “We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies,” she said on July 25.
However, experts warn that the Democrats may ignore anti-war protests at their own risk. If Harris alienates younger voters and progressives, it could jeopardize her chances in the presidential election. Hanieh Jodat, a political strategist, explained that Biden’s remarks from Monday are likely to come up short, as they fail to address the criticisms he and Harris face. “The actions this administration takes are a stark contradiction to Biden’s claims on stage about addressing the genocide in Gaza,” Jodat said. “This discrepancy between his rhetoric and reality is not just misleading. It is dangerous.”
The Biden administration has blocked three drafts of United Nations Security Council resolutions that would have called for a ceasefire in Gaza. The U.S. has also approved an additional $14 billion in military aid for Israel.
While Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East promoting a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, advocates for Palestinian rights argue that the U.S. should urge Israel to stop bombing Gaza immediately. Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC, which has organized protests around the convention, stated that Biden’s comments represent a “slight shift” in the narrative due to pressure from activists. “But at the same time, we do not believe he is trying to end the war against the Palestinian people in Gaza, because if he were, it would be very easy: demand that Israel stop the genocide now, and if not, enact a weapons embargo and stop all aid and weapons,” Abudayyeh said.
Large anti-war demonstrations are scheduled to continue until the convention concludes on Thursday, when Harris will accept the Democratic nomination. Inside the convention halls, the “uncommitted” movement is also pushing for a Palestinian-American leader to address delegates from the main stage. Already on Monday, at least two speakers at the convention referenced Gaza in addition to Biden.
Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has previously accused Israel of genocide, stated that Harris “is working tirelessly to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.” Senator Raphael Warnock mentioned both Palestinians and Israelis while calling for compassion and empathy. “I need my neighbor’s children to be okay, so that my children will also be okay,” he said.
Nevertheless, advocates for Palestinian rights assert that the issue of American support for Israel will extend beyond the convention – and even beyond the November election. They emphasize that the question is not about votes. It is about Palestinian lives.