Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign encountered challenges in articulating a unified message this week, as calls for “solidarity” surfaced alongside demands for a more progressive agenda.
Maurice Mitchell, the national director of the Working Families Party, led the “Progressives for Harris” video call on Monday, urging his “comrades” to unite in the battle against “Trumpism” and “American authoritarianism.”
“This, my friends, my comrades – as we might say in sports – is our political fourth quarter,” Mitchell stated, grappling with choppy audio and intermittent sound issues. “One day, our descendants will reflect on this chapter in history and question what actions we took to combat the forces of fascism and American authoritarianism.”
KAMALA HARRIS HOLDING RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA TO INTRODUCE RUNNING MATE AFTER SECURING DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION
Maurice Mitchell, national director for the Working Families Party, hosted the “Progressives for Harris” video call on Monday. He emphasized the importance of “solidarity” among “comrades” even if there are differences regarding Harris’s platform.
Mitchell set the tone early on by expressing his belief that progressives shouldn’t expect complete alignment with the Democratic nominee.
“I’m not asking for you to be in total agreement with VP Harris’s policy positions. I certainly am not,” Mitchell remarked. “And I’m not asking you to suppress your critiques or questions.”
The Biden administration’s ongoing support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas was a consistent point of criticism during the Progressives for Harris call.
IT’S OFFICIAL: VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS FORMALLY WINS THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the audience during an NCAA championship teams celebration on the South Lawn of the White House. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“I’m sure there are those like me who haven’t endorsed Vice President Harris yet as we await more details on her policy,” remarked Georgia state Rep. Ruwa Romman. “Yet, due to the urgency of this moment, we understand that a second Trump term poses a significant threat. I’m here to affirm that both of these stances are valid.”
Layla Elabed, the leader of the Uncommitted movement and an Arab-American community organizer from Michigan, voiced her project’s demands for a shift in Gaza policy during the call.
Elabed expressed that her community faces an “impossible choice” – “A candidate who bans our home countries and endorses the escalation of fascism and authoritarianism, or a candidate who supports a fascist and authoritarian regime.”
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN WARNS DISSING KAMALA AS BIDEN REPLACEMENT WOULD BE ‘KISS OF DEATH’ FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Layla Elabed, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan, speaking during an election night watch party in Dearborn. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“I plead that we keep urging Vice President Kamala Harris, as the Democratic nominee for president, to heed the calls from the majority of Democrats who demand the cessation of violence and occupation in Palestine,” she continued.
The Uncommitted movement, which began among primarily Arab communities in Michigan, aims to instigate political pressure for the Democratic Party to withdraw support for Israel unless they commit to ending that support.
Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of Uncommitted, also addressed the call, expressing his support for Harris, contingent on the adoption of such policies.
“As a delegate, I’m calling for us to listen to the over 100,000 voters in Michigan who chose ‘uncommitted’ to advocate for a new approach to Gaza policy,” Alawieh stated. “[Voters] who are optimistic about Vice President Harris as our candidate and hope that entails meaningful engagement with the anti-war movement that has inspired voters nationwide.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Abbas Alawieh, spokesperson for Listen to Michigan, speaking to the media the day after the state’s presidential primary at Haraz Coffee House in Dearborn. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)
The “Progressives for Harris” video conference attracted over 100,000 virtual attendees, featuring significant speakers such as Senators Bernie Sanders from Vermont and Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts.
This event marked yet another in a series of ongoing virtual conferences organized by the Harris campaign tailored toward specific demographics.
Other recent conference calls have included themed events like “White Women for Harris,” “Win With Black Women,” and “Cat Ladies for Kamala.”
