‘Uncommitted’ leaders begin sit-in after Democrats deny their request for speaking slot at convention

Chicago CNN —

Leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement began a sit-in outside the Democratic convention Wednesday night after being told by party officials that they will not get a speaking slot at the gathering.

Co-founder Abbas Alawieh, whose group emerged during the Democratic presidential primary to marshal protest votes against the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza after the October 7 attacks, told reporters he received a call from a convention official Wednesday night, saying, “Abbas, the answer is no.”

Alawieh, an uncommitted delegate from Michigan, then sat down on the concrete outside the United Center, with images of Kamala Harris shining out over him, and said he would not leave the spot until the vice president and convention organizers reversed their decision. He was quickly joined by other uncommitted delegates and, toward the end of the program, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar briefly joined the group. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also expressed support for the group on social media and urged the DNC to reverse its decision.

Besides a speaking slot, movement leaders also had other asks, including for a US government arms embargo against Israel, that were rejected out of hand by Democratic leaders.

Before addressing reporters, Alawieh called for a moment of silence. He then described being a child, at 15, in Southern Lebanon during an Israeli bombing.

“Our government’s policy is to kill people like me,” he said, growing increasingly emotional.

Chicago workers set up the additional line of security fences outside the United Center on Tuesday morning.

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