John Oliver urges pro-Palestinian voters to support Harris

IN final episode of “Last Week Tonight” Ahead of Election Day, host John Oliver made a last-minute appeal to undecided pro-Palestinian voters to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, arguing she would be easier to hold accountable than former President Donald Trump when it comes to the U.S. role. in Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

With just one day left in the presidential campaign, the Democratic nominee continues to struggle to win over voters who strongly oppose the Biden administration’s near-unconditional military and diplomatic support for Israel—especially in Michigan. a crucial swing state with a large Muslim and Arab American population.

“First of all, let me say that I wish Harris would have done more to reach out to you other than sending Bill Clinton to basically berate you this week,” Oliver said on Sunday’s episode. referring to the former President’s incendiary speech in Michigan, where he defended Israeli military strikes that killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians.

Some pro-Palestinian voters had hoped Harris would do more to help Palestinian Americans after she succeeds President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee. But since the Vice President publicly states that her position on Gaza policy will be essentially unchanged from BidenMany Democratic voters who support a free Palestine are hesitant to continue supporting their party’s candidate of choice.

“I supported people showing up and voting rather than staying on the sidelines, regardless of anything that has happened or happened to you, directly or indirectly,” Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hamoud told Democracy Now. “What I can assure you is that sitting on the sidelines will achieve nothing.”

“So I encouraged people to vote their moral conscience,” Hamoud said. “Get out, at least start with the local ballot issues, local elections, and then move forward to the votes as they get to this presidential issue.”

Oliver pointed to the positions of some Muslim and Arab-American leaders belonging to the so-called Uncommitted movement, who organized protest votes during the primary elections that received so much support that the movement sent at least 30 delegates to represent the pro-Palestinian cause. voting for the Democratic National Convention, although they were denied the opportunity to speak.

Movement leaders refused to formally endorse Harris after she failed to do so. meet with them to discuss potential policy changesShe also would not meet with Palestinian families in Michigan whose loved ones were killed in the Gaza Strip. However, they vehemently warned followers of the movement not to vote for Trump or third-party candidate such as Jill SteinGreen Party candidate with won notable support from some pro-Palestinian voters after she linked her campaign to calling for an Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip using American weapons.

“Promoting Palestinian human rights will never be easy. But with a second Trump presidency, both civilians in Palestine and our anti-war movement here in our country will suffer,” said Uncommited co-founder Abbas Alawie. in a Friday ad mobilizing Michigan voters. against the Republican candidate.

Oliver echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Trump’s cozy relationship with right-wing leaders in Israel and his stated plans for the future of Palestinian enclaves, as well as proposals for the right-wing presidential transition plan “Project 2025”, which threaten aggressive action in the US against pro-Palestinian protests. On top of that, the late night host emphasized that Trump’s re-election would have ramifications far beyond his four years in the White House if he is given the ability to nominate U.S. Supreme Court justices again.

Some Uncommitment leaders emphasized that they are voting for Harris because she can be more easily pressured to change policy positions. Georgia Rep. Ruva Romman recorded a TikTok post last month. stating that she voted for a Democrat in her crucial swing state as “a promise that I and those with me will not stop demanding an end to mass murder and violence everywhere.”

Harris told reporters Sunday in Detroit that she was “honored” to have the support of some Arab-American leaders, but she knew the community “is not a monolith.”

“There are many challenges that all Americans face, and also, of course, some that are specific to what’s happening in Gaza,” she said, repeating the message from her campaign and the current White House that the United States is committed to agreement on a ceasefire, the return of hostages, Israeli security and Palestinian self-determination.

Biden administration still approves arms sales to Israel despite two-thirds of Harris voters believe the US should not provide unlimited aid to the military if the IDF continues to indiscriminately harm civilians in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, according to a survey released Monday Arab American Institute.

“Here’s how I look at it: The fight for justice is not just about what happens on Election Day,” Oliver said. “This is a struggle that is waged constantly, day after day – in the protests, in the streets, in meetings with legislators and in the thousands of small actions that add up to move the government forward, one step at a time.”