As Vice President Kamala Harris prepared to visit Michigan on Thursday, she faced criticism from the Uncommitted National Movement, a group that has mobilized primary voters to cast “uncommitted” ballots against President Biden due to the U.S. stance on the Gaza conflict. The group, which originated in Michigan and has gained national attention, announced it would not endorse Harris, citing her lack of response to their requests.
The Uncommitted National Movement had asked Harris to meet with Palestinian American families affected by the Gaza conflict and discuss their demands for halting U.S. arms shipments to Israel. Despite reaching out and setting a deadline for a response by September 15, the group stated that Harris did not address their concerns. “Vice President Harris’s unwillingness to shift on unconditional weapons policy or even make a clear campaign statement supporting the enforcement of U.S. and international human rights law has made it impossible for us to endorse her,” the organization declared.
Harris, who is set to appear at a campaign event with Oprah Winfrey in a Detroit suburb, has made multiple visits to Michigan since launching her presidential campaign. The state, a crucial battleground, has a significant Arab American population, many of whom were part of the over 100,000 voters who cast “uncommitted” ballots against Biden in Michigan’s primary election in February.
The Uncommitted National Movement also urged its supporters not to vote for former President Donald Trump, condemning his past remarks on the Palestinian issue, and discouraged supporting third-party candidates, warning it could inadvertently aid Trump’s campaign. Tensions between the group and Harris’s campaign have been escalating, especially after a recent brief interaction between Uncommitted leaders and Harris, where her national security adviser made it clear that she does not support an arms embargo on Israel.
