As Vice President Kamala Harris received the presidential nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), thousands of people marched near the convention demanding an end to U.S. arms shipments to Israel and the war on Gaza. The protesters, led by Palestinian and Jewish activists, represented a diverse coalition including anti-war veterans, climate justice activists, and labor organizers. Despite efforts by Democrats to keep the Palestine issue sidelined, the marchers made their voices heard, declaring Harris and President Joe Biden complicit in the genocide in Gaza. The protesters came from communities and movements that are often considered part of the Democratic coalition, warning that their votes could not be taken for granted unless the party takes concrete action to end the occupation and devastation in Palestine. Organizers estimate around 30,000 people demonstrated in Chicago over the course of the week, making Palestine impossible to ignore during the convention. The activists drew connections between the struggle for Palestinian liberation and the fight against racist violence and state repression in the U.S., challenging the Democratic Party’s complicity in both. The protests encountered a heavy police presence, with hundreds of riot police surrounding the march at all times. Despite the tension, the demonstration remained largely peaceful as the protesters demanded justice for Palestine. As Kamala Harris prepared to take the stage, the marchers continued their chants and songs, determined to keep the spotlight on the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza and the Democratic Party’s failure to address it.
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There are people who, for various reasons (some well-meaning, some nefarious), put the plight of Palestinians above all other concerns, and decry anyone who doesn’t do the same. And they think the solution is to hold the rest of the left hostage by letting Trump win if they don’t get their way (though to be fair, I think most of them live in solid blue states where they can do what they want without actually hurting the election, and I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t do so).
But people will make choices based on their own needs. How many queer folks are going to choose to allow Trump to win for the sake of Palestinians? Some, I’ve no doubt, but enough in swing states to change the outcome? Seems doubtful.
Israel is the most complicated thing in geopolitics, perhaps ever. It’ll never be solved in a way that leaves anyone hands clean. I support the right to protest and solicit money to help civilians in need and get the message out and to lobby politicians. I think anyone in a swing state who lets this dictate their vote is shooting themselves in the foot for no possible gain. I guess it’s their vote, but it’s just as frustrating watching them as watching poor Republicans vote against their own interests every election.
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What pressure is even possible after the election? There is only one legal way to put pressure on a politician, and that is with your vote. If you vote for them despite everything, simply because they’re the lesser evil, how do you expect to put pressure on them after? They’ll do what they always do, which is whatever the owner class tells them to do, up until a few months before the next election. Then it’s not about what they have or have not done in the past four years, it’s about defeating the Other Guy. Again.
For the record, I agree with you. There’s no good choice here. And I’ll be voting for Harris come November, though I don’t see it as a vote for Harris particularly, just a vote for the Democratic Party, to reward them for actually listening to
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Very well written.
I think what has a lot of people angry isn’t just the genocide though. It’s how the US can’t seem to get a handle on Israel. They exist and continue to exist because of the US. Yet they act like the spoiled child who knows they’ll never get in trouble no matter what they do. People want to see their leader actually get a handle on things there.
That’s because Netanyahu has a handle on the US.
Through AIPAC, yes. It just goes to show how susceptible to lobbying the US. This embarrasses them on the world stage in turn. As they’re seen as not being able to keep their attack dog in check.
They seem to have brought us to heel pretty effectively.
not sure you fully understand the whole history and entirety of this situation
This is the state of lemmy’s political threads.
A long nuanced answer explaining historical context and the complexity of the situation.
While you and other commenter give petulant 1 sentence responses like “hur dur they don’t know shit about fuck”. Im surprised you didn’t call him blue maga.
Not once have I ever heard from any account spouting nonsense like that who they intend to vote for especially at any other level of gov who would accomplish their goals and how.not once do I hear about a way forward from this weird ass shill accounts constantly shitting on the left instead of actually describing the concrete steps to achieve your goals that others could take. You know beyond shitting on liberals.
Maybe it’s a sign of moderation that these threads are nothing but accounts like yours desperately shutting down conversation and the possibility of good political discussion. It’s quite impressive how frankly you guys keep shutting on discourse every where to the point of any serious discussion of policy is drowned out by accounts like yours and comments like this.
I fully expect to get 4-5 responses calling me made up names like “blue maga” instead of presenting their take, specific candidates, pieces of legislation etc. because that’s where lemmy is at this point.
They think everything started on October 7, 2023…
They sure typed a lot of words to show that they don’t know shit about fuck