ABANDON ELECTORALISM: On the DNC, Kamala Harris, and the Role of Electoral Politics in the Palestinian Movement
This past week, we have quietly observed the circus display funded and organized by the Democratic Party. It has become glaring apparent that the goal of this election cycle's so-called "Democratic National Convention" was to create a strong statement against Palestinian liberation, to commit to ensure the Zionist project is well-funded, to vow to continue building the most lethal military force in the world, and to continue upholding the stronghold of the US empire's political and corporate establishment.
The Democratic Party's platform has shown itself to be a mere facade--a polished veneer designed to obscure its true allegiance. The writers of that platform were clearly not interested in combating Trump's policies or even the Republican Party's. In fact, what we've seen is multiple opportunities for hardline Republicans to be given platforms at the DNC. Ultimately, the objective is to ensure Democrats have the ability to enact the same policies as Trump and his conservative front without scrutiny—essentially putting a "nice face" on their crimes.
The dehumanization was not limited to official statements or party stances, but were further perpetuated by attending delegates and influencers present at the convention. We are now all too familiar with the visuals of delegates mocking Palestinian protesters reading out the names of Palestinian children killed by Zionist forces in Gaza or those who boldly claimed "if you're not at the table, you're on the menu" while shunning and belittling Palestinians from the conversation.
Months ago, we posted our thoughts on the Politics of Liberation and how we must uphold those ideals above the politics of empire. We continue to stress the importance of abandoning the political establishment the Imperial Core attempts to force down our throats, especially as we near election day. Consider that regardless of our vote, the status quo will not change, and the only way we can enact the change we want to see is by doing the work of supporting our local communities.
For this reason, we are distancing ourselves from the "Uncommitted" delegates that were present. Although the movement itself is noble in its attempt to apply pressure on one of the major gears of empire, it has slowly devolved into a concession campaign to try to eventually justify their votes for Killer Kamala by giving the DNC the most basic ask of speaking at the convention.
The speech that those delegates staged a 24 hour sit-in for was filled with excuses and endorsements of Harris and the Democratic Party, portraying themselves as the saviors of the Democratic Party's "soul."
We unequivocally reject this charade.
As Palestinians and allies in the diaspora, we bear a profound responsibility to ensure that the message of Palestinian liberation remains uncompromised and untainted by normalizers who seek to perpetuate imperialist agenda and uphold the establishment.
The time has come to unequivocally reject the false promises and empty gestures of electoral politics, regardless of what side it originates from. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to true liberation.
Our solidarity with the Palestinian cause demands nothing less.
The United Liberation Front for Palestine
Statement — August 26th 2024
