“They won’t get our vote.” About twenty kilometers from Chicago, where the Democratic Party is preparing to triumphantly invest Kamala Harris, members of the largest Palestinian community in the country are still angry.
In the alleys of Bridgeview, a few Palestinian flags stand out against the gray facades. Under the signs in Arabic and English, posters calling for demonstrations against American support for Israel are plastered.
After more than a decade of devastating conflict in Gaza, the holding of the Democratic convention this week has rekindled resentment among residents of this city nicknamed “Little Palestine” against the duo that runs the country.
“What I can tell you is that people are angry with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. They are not welcome here,” says Ali Ibrahim, a 20-something. “And we are going to protest to let them know that.”
Hundreds of people gathered in Chicago on Monday afternoon to call for an end to U.S. support for Israel, with more similar rallies planned throughout the week to increase pressure on the Democratic Party.
“They won’t have our vote this year, and we don’t want them to be elected, because what’s happening is wrong, and we don’t tolerate it,” says the young man, wearing a pendant in the shape of historic Palestine around his neck.
“Some members of our community worked hard to elect Joe Biden in 2020, and now feel betrayed,” said Souzan Naser, who is of Palestinian descent and grew up in this Chicago suburb.
Because here, she explains, everyone is, directly or indirectly, connected to the conflict.
“I have a student who, for example, lost 35 members of her family,” confides this teacher and member of the pro-Palestinian association USPCN, her voice choked with emotion.
The war, which began on October 7 with an unprecedented attack by Hamas in Israel, has left more than 40,000 dead in the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry there.
“Betrayed”
A tragedy that could have been avoided, according to Ali Ibrahim. American officials “could have easily called a ceasefire and made this war over a long time ago,” he believes.
“With the stroke of a pen, they can end the genocide, they can choose to stop sending military aid that is slaughtering our people,” M.me Naser.
For her, as for other residents she met, the withdrawal of President Biden from the race, and his replacement by the vice president, who promised not to “remain silent” in the face of the suffering of Palestinian civilians, changes nothing.
“Has she done enough? No. Will she do it? That’s what we hope,” said Palestinian restaurant owner Muhammad Baste, calling for action rather than promises.
Among those desired: a permanent ceasefire, the end of American aid to Israel and an arms embargo. A measure that would not be considered by the candidate, however, one of her close advisers had indicated at the beginning of the month.
Without a radical change in the Democratic Party’s policy on this matter, they will have to do without them in November, warn voters in “Little Palestine.”
“You can’t expect us to vote for you when your values, your policies and your principles don’t match ours,” Mr.me Naser.
And let no one tell him, like Kamala Harris herself, that the abstainers could be responsible for a return to power of the Republican Donald Trump.
Another Trump presidency would be a “disaster,” the teacher believes, “but we refuse to take responsibility for it. We have given you all the time you need to change course and you continue to insist,” she accuses.
During a recent campaign trip, Kamala Harris was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists shouting “we will not vote for genocide!”
“If you want Donald Trump to win, keep saying that,” the Democrat snapped. “Otherwise, I’ll be the one talking.”