Watch: Palestinian American Lawmaker Gives Speech the DNC Wouldn't Allow on Stage

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23 Aug 202406:11

Summary

TLDRThe Harris campaign barred a Palestinian American from speaking at the Democratic National Convention, sparking protests. Delegates advocating for Palestinian rights and an end to U.S. support for Israel's actions in Gaza staged a sit-in. Georgia State Representative Ruwa Romman, denied a platform, read her intended speech, emphasizing unity and the need for the Democratic Party to advocate for peace, equal rights, and dignity for all, including Palestinians.

Takeaways

🚫 The Harris campaign allegedly refused to allow a Palestinian American to speak at the convention, leading to protests and a night spent on the sidewalk by delegates and allies.
🗣️ Delegates from the 'uncommitted movement' demanded an end to the Biden administration's support of Israel's actions in Gaza and called for a foreign arms embargo.
📣 The uncommitted movement urged Harris to visit Michigan and discuss U.S. policy on Israel and Palestine by September 15th.
🏛️ Ruqaiyah 'Ru' Roman, a Palestinian American and Georgia state representative, was among those denied the opportunity to speak at the convention.
📜 Despite the denial, Ruqaiyah 'Ru' Roman read the speech she would have given, emphasizing the need for a Palestinian voice to be represented in the Democratic party.
🏡 Roman's personal story connects her family's roots in Palestine with her current role in Georgia, highlighting the importance of representation.
🕊️ The speech called for unity within the Democratic party, advocating for equal rights and dignity for all, including Palestinians.
🛑 Roman's speech criticized the ongoing violence in Gaza and the displacement of Palestinians, urging the party to take a stand against it.
🤝 The call for collective peace and safety was made, emphasizing the need for a multifaith, multi-racial, and multigenerational coalition within the Democratic party.
🌟 The speech highlighted the strength of the Democratic party in uniting diverse voices and the importance of standing together against divisive policies.
💪 A commitment to fighting for overdue policies was made, including restoring access to abortions, ensuring a living wage, ending reckless wars, and advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Q & A

What issue did the Harris campaign refuse to address by not allowing a Palestinian American to take the stage?
-The Harris campaign refused to address the issue of the Biden administration's backing of Israel in its conflict with Gaza, as well as the broader concerns of the Palestinian American community regarding U.S. policy on Israel and Palestine.
What was the response of the uncommitted movement to the Harris campaign's refusal?
-The uncommitted movement staged a sit-in and spent the night on the sidewalk outside the United Center, demanding a meeting with Harris to discuss U.S. policy on Israel and Palestine.
Who is Ruqa Huq and what is her significance in this context?
-Ruqa Huq is a Palestinian American who is a Georgia state representative in the Georgia legislature. She was among the list of speakers offered by the uncommitted movement that the Harris campaign refused to allow on stage.
What did Ruqa Huq plan to discuss in her speech at the convention if allowed?
-Ruqa Huq planned to discuss her personal story, the hardships faced by Palestinians, the need for a ceasefire and an end to the killing of Palestinians, and the importance of unity within the Democratic party to address these issues.
What is the significance of the 'uncommitted movement' mentioned in the script?
-The 'uncommitted movement' is a group of delegates that called for an end to the Biden administration's support of Israel in its conflict with Gaza and advocated for a more balanced U.S. policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
What was the reaction of the Democratic National Committee to the uncommitted movement's request?
-The Democratic National Committee informed the uncommitted movement that it was the Harris campaign that denied their request to have a Palestinian American speak at the convention.
What is the historical context of Ruqa Huq's family background mentioned in the script?
-Ruqa Huq's family background is rooted in Palestine, with her father's family from a small village near Jerusalem and her mother's roots in Al Khalil (Hebron). Her parents were born in Jordan and moved to Georgia when she was eight years old.
What was the main message Ruqa Huq wanted to convey in her speech?
-Ruqa Huq's main message was the call for unity within the Democratic party to prioritize equal rights and dignity for all, including Palestinians, and to address long overdue policies such as ending reckless wars and ensuring a living wage.
What specific actions did the uncommitted movement demand in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
-The uncommitted movement demanded the enforcement of U.S. laws on friend and foe alike, a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli and Palestinian hostages, and the beginning of the work towards collective peace and safety.
What was the reaction of the delegates and their allies to the news of the Harris campaign's refusal?
-Many of the delegates and their allies staged a sit-in and spent the night on the sidewalk just outside the United Center in protest of the Harris campaign's refusal to allow a Palestinian American to speak.
What does Ruqa Huq suggest as the Democratic party's greatest strength?
-Ruqa Huq suggests that the Democratic party's greatest strength is its ability to unite, and she calls for the party to flex this strength in the face of challenges and to commit to electing Vice President Harris and defeating Donald Trump.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Palestinian American Denied Stage Access at DNC

The Harris campaign reportedly denied a request from the uncommitted delegates for a Palestinian American to speak at the Democratic National Convention. Despite ongoing negotiations, the delegates staged a protest after being informed of the refusal. The uncommitted movement, which has been active in state Democratic primaries, called for an end to U.S. support for Israel's actions in Gaza and an arms embargo. They urged Harris to meet with them in Michigan to discuss U.S. policy on Israel and Palestine. At a press conference, Ruwa Romman, a Palestinian American and Georgia state representative, read the speech she would have given at the convention, expressing her dismay at the lack of representation and calling for unity and equal rights within the Democratic party.

05:01

🌟 Call for Unity and Change within the Democratic Party

Rua Romman, a Palestinian American and Georgia state representative, delivered a powerful speech that she would have presented at the Democratic National Convention if given the opportunity. She emphasized the need for the Democratic party to prioritize funding for schools and hospitals over endless wars and to fight for an inclusive America that belongs to all, regardless of race or ethnicity. Romman called for unity against divisive figures like Donald Trump and highlighted the importance of standing together for collective peace and safety, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Her speech underscored the Democratic party's strength in unity and the need to elect Vice President Harris and defeat Trump.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Harris campaign

The Harris campaign refers to the political campaign led by Kamala Harris, who was the running mate of Joe Biden in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election. In the context of the video, it is mentioned that the Harris campaign refused to allow a Palestinian American to take the stage, indicating a decision made by the campaign team that is central to the video's narrative about representation and political discourse.

💡Palestinian American

A Palestinian American is an individual of Palestinian descent living in the United States. The video script highlights the exclusion of a Palestinian American voice from a political stage, emphasizing the importance of representation and diversity in political discourse. Ruwa Romman, a Georgia state representative, is introduced as a Palestinian American who was denied the opportunity to speak.

💡Democratic National Committee (DNC)

The Democratic National Committee is the governing body of the United States Democratic Party, responsible for coordinating the party's activities. In the script, the DNC is mentioned as having communicated with delegates about the Harris campaign's decision, showing the DNC's role in managing party affairs and the controversy surrounding the representation of different voices.

💡Uncommitted movement

The uncommitted movement in the script seems to represent a group of delegates who are not bound to support a particular candidate or policy. They are involved in advocating for changes in U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel and Palestine, and are central to the video's theme of political activism and the push for policy change.

💡State Democratic primaries

State Democratic primaries are the elections held within each U.S. state to select delegates to the Democratic National Convention. The script mentions these primaries as a context where delegates and allies staged a protest, illustrating the grassroots political engagement and the video's focus on political participation.

💡Biden administration

The Biden administration refers to the U.S. federal government under the leadership of President Joe Biden. The script criticizes the administration's backing of Israel, linking it to the broader theme of U.S. foreign policy and its implications for the conflict in Gaza.

💡Israel-Gaza conflict

The Israel-Gaza conflict is an ongoing struggle between Israel and the Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza. The script mentions 'the massacres in Gaza' and calls for a ceasefire and an end to the displacement of Palestinians, highlighting the human rights concerns and the urgency of the conflict as a central issue in the video.

💡Multifaith, multi-racial, and multigenerational coalition

This term describes a diverse group of people from different religious, racial, and age backgrounds coming together for a common cause. In the script, it is used to describe the Democratic party's strength in unity and the collective effort to advocate for peace and safety, emphasizing the video's theme of solidarity and inclusivity.

💡Equal rights and dignity

The concept of equal rights and dignity is a fundamental principle of democratic societies, advocating for the fair treatment and respect of all individuals. The script uses this term to underscore the Democratic party's commitment to these values and the video's overarching message of advocating for justice and equality.

💡Reckless war

Reckless war refers to military action taken without due consideration of the consequences or the potential for unnecessary conflict. In the script, it is used to criticize certain policies and to call for an end to such actions, tying into the video's broader theme of advocating for peace and responsible governance.

💡Cynics and naysayers

Cynics and naysayers are individuals who express doubt or pessimism about a situation or idea. The script uses this term to describe those who might doubt the possibility of change or progress, but it counters this with a message of hope and determination, asserting the potential for positive change as a central theme of the video.

Highlights

The Harris campaign refused to allow a Palestinian American to take the stage.

Delegates with the uncommitted movement said the Democratic National Committee told them it was the Harris campaign that denied their request.

Many delegates and their allies staged a sit-in and spent the night on the sidewalk outside the United Center after receiving the news.

The uncommitted movement called on Harris to meet with them and discuss US policy on Israel and Palestine by September 15th.

Ruqaiya Abbasi, a Palestinian American Georgia state representative, was among the speakers the Harris campaign refused to allow on stage.

Abbasi read the speech she would have given at the convention if allowed, highlighting the need for representation of Palestinian voices.

Abbasi expressed dismay at the lack of diversity at the convention and the need to bridge the gap between the party and voters.

She shared her personal story, tracing her family's roots to Jerusalem and Hebron, and growing up in Georgia.

Abbasi spoke about the pain of witnessing the massacres in Gaza and the strength of the Palestinian people.

She called for unity within the Democratic party to demand equal rights and dignity for all.

Abbasi emphasized the importance of enforcing laws on friend and foe alike to reach a ceasefire and end the killing of Palestinians.

She urged the party to commit to electing Vice President Harris and defeating Donald Trump.

Abbasi advocated for policies such as restoring access to abortions, ensuring a living wage, and ending reckless wars.

She called for the Democratic party to prioritize funding schools and hospitals over endless wars.

Abbasi challenged cynics and naysayers, asserting that the party can prioritize the needs of all Americans, including Jews and Palestinians.

She concluded with a call to stand together as a united Democratic party, following the example of Barbara Lamer.