Members of the far-left expressed outrage Wednesday after Vice President Kamala Harris told anti-Israel protesters who were disrupting a campaign speech in Detroit to stop yelling, saying her comments to a small group showed she didn’t care about the Gaza war.
Harris initially acknowledged the protesters after their initial tirade, but the protesters continued to chant that Harris was complicit in “genocide” in Gaza because of the ongoing war with Hamas.
“Look, if you want Donald Trump to win, say so. If you don’t, I’ll speak,” Harris said to extended applause from her supporters.
The video was shared on X, and far-left groups used it as an example to argue that Harris is no different from President Joe Biden on the issue of the Israel-Hamas war, despite current Minnesota Governor Tim Walz being considered as a candidate.
“Kamala Harris should be disrupted and protested wherever she goes,” the Los Angeles People’s City Council wrote. “Those who defend this are not your allies. Continue to expose the contradictions.”
Harris has not made clear whether she would support an arms embargo.
“This is a spiteful response to people who just want to end genocide,” said Joshua Hill, a self-described anti-capitalist with more than 330,000 followers on X.
Jewish Current editor-in-chief Peter Beinart called Harris’ rebuttal “foolish and heartless.”
The unrest came even as Harris met briefly with anti-Israel activists and signalled she was open to another, more substantive meeting with them about the arms embargo on Israel. It caused a major uproar as it marks a major shift in US policy towards Israel and a major victory for far-left groups that have led violent protests in the US since October 8, 2023.
The news sparked fierce backlash, with Harris’ national security adviser, Phil Gordon, issuing a statement on Thursday saying Harris has “always been clear” that she will “ensure that Israel can defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups. Harris said she does not support an arms embargo on Israel but would ensure civilians in Gaza are protected.”
Gordon’s comments raise further questions because Harris has not given interviews or answered media questions since being declared Biden’s successor after he dropped out of the presidential race, and has not made it clear whether she would support the arms embargo.
Progressive anger over the election interference and Harris’ response to it suggests the group will not take Democrats lightly when they hold their national convention in Chicago later this month. Many extremist groups have already vowed to repeat the riots that occurred when Democrats held their convention in the Windy City in 1968.
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