Kamala Harris faced heckling from Gaza ceasefire protesters at a Detroit rally on Wednesday, with demonstrators chanting, “Kamala, Kamala, you can't hide, we won’t vote for genocide.” The Democratic nominee paused her speech as the crowd tried to drown out the chants with support. Harris responded by saying, “Everyone’s voice matters. But I am speaking now.” When the protesters continued, she added, “If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.” The protesters were later escorted out by campaign staff.
Before the rally, Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, met briefly with leaders from the Uncommitted movement, which has urged voters to protest US support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The organisers confirmed that the rally hecklers were not from the group. In a statement, Uncommitted co-founders Layla Elabed and Abbas Alawieh said they had discussed their concerns about US weapons supplies to Israel with Harris, who expressed an openness to a formal meeting on an arms embargo.
The Uncommitted movement gained significant traction during the Democratic primaries, with more than 100,000 voters in Michigan casting “uncommitted” ballots—13.3% of the vote. Nationally, over 700,000 voters chose similar protest options. The movement has now requested that Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan, a physician who worked in Gaza, speak at the Democratic National Convention, which begins on 19 August.
Alawieh, a delegate to the convention, said in the statement, “We want to support you, Vice-President Harris, and our voters need to see you turn a new page on Gaza policy that includes embracing an arms embargo to save lives.” Elabed added, “I meet with community members every day in Michigan who are losing tens and hundreds of family members in Gaza. Right now, we need an arms embargo.”
Walz, the governor of Minnesota, had previously acknowledged the movement in March, when Uncommitted voters made up 19% of the primary vote in his state. Commenting on the situation, Walz said, “These are voters that are deeply concerned, as we all are. The situation in Gaza is intolerable.”
