Muslim Democrats buoyed by Shapiro snub encourage ‘mass demonstrations’ at DNC

If bypassing Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for the 2024 presidential ticket was supposed to lower the pro-Palestinian temperature at the Democratic National Convention, the strategy may have backfired.

Muslim Democrats are calling for “mass demonstrations” at the Aug. 19-22 event in Chicago, citing Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as evidence that the push for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war is gaining momentum.

“Vice President Kamala Harris has finally heeded the voices of thousands of pro-Palestinian delegates, activists and allies,” the Muslim Delegates & Allies Coalition said in a statement emailed to The Washington Times. “This decision highlights the importance of staying engaged with the political system and actively participating in the Democratic Party’s processes.”

To that end, “we encourage mass demonstrations at the Democratic National Committee this month to confront this foreign policy debacle,” said the organization.

Ms. Harris’ decision Tuesday to choose Mr. Walz as her running mate left some political analysts scratching their heads, given that Mr. Shapiro is the popular governor of a must-have swing state for Democrats, while Minnesota has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1976.

Even so, the coalition, which has 36 DNC delegates and members, said it was “relieved that former [Israel] Defense Soldier Josh Shapiro was not selected as vice president.”

“The progressive Tim Walz’s selection over Shapiro, following a weekend frenzy of social media activism and media campaigns, marks a significant setback for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee,” the release said. “The American Muslim electorate demands an immediate and permanent cease-fire and arms embargo on Israel.”

Labor unions, liberals and pro-Palestinian groups praised Ms. Harris for firing up the Democratic base by choosing Mr. Walz in the race against former President Donald Trump, while conservatives accused her of bowing to the anti-Israel left.

“By passing over Josh Shapiro because of protests that he was too pro-Israel, the Harris team may have thought they would avoid defections from anti-Israel voters in Michigan and elsewhere, but it may have the opposite effect,” said Cornell Law School professor William Jacobson, who runs the Legal Insurrection Foundation.

“Paying ransom to hostage takers never works, and Harris paid ransom to the anti-Zionists by passing over Shapiro,” he told The Washington Times. “There is no indication that the protests at the DNC are scaling back, and if anything, sacrificing Shapiro at the altar of anti-Zionism has accelerated the planned attacks.”

The Muslim delegates urged Democratic delegates to support their 2024 platform recommendations, including “an immediate cease-fire” and an end to aid to Israel.

Also signing the statement was the Coalition for Peace, Relief and Equity.

The Coalition to March on the DNC is planning at least two anti-Israel protests during the four-day convention at the United Center, calling the events “a march for Palestine” and demanding an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

CALLING ALL ORGS: There’s still time to support the March on the DNC and spread the word about your work by signing up to table at the march!
Tables and Chairs will be provided for setup in Union Park on August 19.
Visit https://t.co/JtkHrz7L5a to sign up! pic.twitter.com/EyLI7WQMtN

— March on the DNC 2024 (@MarchOnDNC2024) August 8, 2024

Other organizations led by the U.S. Palestinian Community Network are holding a Saturday march ahead of the convention in Chicago.

“With the @MarchOnDNC2024 less than two weeks away, we must continue to make our demands clear as we stand w/ Palestine & all oppressed folks!” the network wrote on X.

Tensions are rising as the convention approaches. The Anti-Defamation League Midwest warned at a Thursday press conference that the groups behind the protests have inspired “acts of vandalism, harassment and violence,” and urged media outlets not to give airtime to the marches.

Hatem Abudayyeh, co-chairman of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, accused the ADL of racism, telling CBS Chicago that “no evidence” suggests the march will be violent.