Muslim Women for Harris-Walz disbands in uproar after Palestinian speaker refused slot at DNC

The group Muslim Women for Harris-Walz has announced that it is disbanding in uproar after a request to give a Palestinian speaker a slot at the Democratic National Convention was denied.

The Biden-Harris administration has received heavy criticism for its steadfast support for Israel during the war in Gaza that has so far killed more than 40,000 people.

During this week’s DNC, uncommitted delegates descended on Chicago and urged Kamala Harris’s campaign to host a Palestinian American speaker on the main stage at the convention.

Abbas Alawieh, a Michigan delegate who is acting as a spokesperson for the uncommitted delegates, said on Wednesday evening that he got a call telling him “the answer is no.”

In response, the delegates – who were elected in state primaries in protest of President Joe Biden’s support for Israel – staged a small protest outside the United Center on Wednesday night and the group Muslim Women for Harris-Walz announced that it was shuttering its operations.

In the statement, Muslim Women for Harris-Walz said they “cannot in good conscience continue” with the group in light of the decision.

The group added that the parents of the 23-year-old Israeli hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who appeared onstage on Wednesday night, showed “more empathy towards Palestinian Americans and Palestinians than our candidate or the DNC has”.

“This is a terrible message to send to Democrats. Palestinians have the right to speak about Palestine. We pray that the DNC and VP Harris team makes the right decision before this convention is over. For the sake of each of us,” the statement added.

The Independent has contacted the Harris campaign for comment.

Protesters said that the impromptu sit-in, which initially began when