DNC delegates against genocide demand no to the Democratic Party platform

The Delegates Against Genocide coalition exposes the divide among Democrats and calls on all delegates to vote “no” on Israel in the Democratic Party’s 2024 platform.

The coalition of delegates to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) criticizes the platform for failing to call for a permanent and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, enforced by the US arms embargo against Israel.

“Voting ‘no’ on this platform is a statement for justice and human rights, it is a statement that NEVER AGAIN means NEVER AGAIN for everyone, everywhere, period,” said Liano Sharon, a representative of Delegates Against Genocide and DNC member-elect from Michigan. “The platform fails to address the ongoing mass murder and genocide by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank; it fails to hold those responsible for the atrocities accountable, thereby undermining our party’s commitment to international justice and democracy. Either we support human rights everywhere and for everyone, or we support justice and democracy nowhere and for no one. An injury to one is an injury to all, as every union member understands.”

Delegates Against Genocide also calls on the Democratic Party to fully enforce the Leahy Act, which prohibits U.S. military assistance to foreign security forces that commit serious human rights abuses. The coalition demands that the United States actively cooperate with and support the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in their efforts to investigate and prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity, including those committed in Palestine.

“Failure to address these critical issues not only undermines our credibility as a party committed to human rights, but also perpetuates the cycle of violence and impunity,” said Nadia Ahmad, a DNC member-elect from Florida. “We must stand up for justice, both domestically and internationally. A no vote on the platform sends a clear message that as Democrats, we will not support policies that enable genocide, war crimes and human rights abuses.”

The issue is dividing Democrats and will pose a challenge for Vice President Kamala Harris and her presidential campaign as she heads to the DNC. How will she respond and what message will the Harris for President campaign convey on the issue? Republicans will likely try to exploit the issue to win over independents and possibly some Democrats as well.

The Delegates Against Genocide stressed that they call on all Democratic Party delegates to join them in voting “no” to the platform and to call for a revised platform that calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel.