The vice president was heckled by pro-Palestinian protesters at a campaign speech in Michigan despite calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Vice President Kamala Harris is receiving backlash over the Biden administration’s response to Israel’s war in Gaza despite apparent attempts to quell dissent.
During a campaign speech on Wednesday in Michigan, a key swing state which has the largest American-Arab population the U.S., Harris was repeatedly heckled by pro-Palestinian protesters.
The chants of “Kamala, Kamala you can’t hide! We won’t vote for genocide” from some sections of the crowd eventually led Harris to respond.
“You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking”, she said.
The incident was the first major public criticism aimed at Harris over the U.S.’ support of Israel during its war against the Palestinian military group Hamas since she replaced President Joe Biden as the head of the Democratic Party’s 2024 ticket.
Biden was frequently attacked for his response to Israel’s war in Gaza, and there were suggestions he was losing the support of young and progressive voters in his now ended 2024 bid because of it.
There had been indications that Harris was attempting to avoid similar criticisms knowing she would be the Democratic Party’s 2024 candidate.
Prior to Wednesday’s campaign rally in Detroit, Harris met with members of Uncommitted National Movement, a campaign group that urged voters to support “uncommitted” on Democratic primary ballots rather than voting for Biden in protest of Israel’s war in Gaza. More than 100,000 uncommitted votes were cast in February’s Democratic primary in Michigan.
Layla Elabed, founder of the group, said she told Harris at the meeting: “Michigan voters want to support you, but we need a policy that will save lives in Gaza right now. I meet with community members every day in Michigan who are losing tens and hundreds of family members in Gaza.
