The Southern Illinois Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) held a “No Votes For Genocide” rally Oct. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Carbondale Town Square Pavilion, protesting voting for presidential candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump because of their support of Israel in the ongoing conflict with Palestine.
On Oct. 7, 2023, the militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel killing over 1,300 Israelis with 3,300 injured and hundreds of hostages according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The Israeli cabinet declared war against Hamas the next day and the defense minister of the Israel Defense Forces ordered for a complete siege of Gaza, which is governed by Hamas. Since then, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 92,000 people have been injured, according to AP News.
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Around 20 participants gathered around 4:50 p.m. to set up Palestinian flags and signs along the street. The signs included the protest name along with a photo of Harris with her eye blurred by a red line.
Chants that could be heard by passersby including “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Kamala Harris you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” along with switching Harris’ name out for Trump.
“Southern Illinois DSA has signed on to the no votes for genocide pledge,” said Chair of the Southern Illinois DSA chapter Luke Herron-Titus. “It’s a national coalition of different DSA chapters… that came out of the uncommitted movement.”
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According to its website, the Uncommitted Movement, which consists of pro-Palestine activists, started off in Michigan and expanded across the country. The movement focuses on not voting for either for the Democrats or Republicans to push the Democratic Party into hearing them and calling for a cease-fire.
The website’s front pagestates, “Our government’s funding of right-wing Netanyahu’s (Prime Minister of Israel) murderous campaign has mobilized a multi-faith, multi-generational, multi-racial Democratic base in Michigan and nationwide. The movement has highlighted a clear disconnect between the Democratic party and key constituencies in their base.”
The movement is to put pressure on the government to take action
“People need to vote third party, or just not vote at all and refuse to vote for both genocidal corporate parties, the Republicans and the Democrats,” Herron-Titus said.
Herron-Titus said many DSA chapters are pushing for an arms embargo and permanent cease-fire, which neither of the presidential candidates have called for.
“So, you know, that’s what we want to see, is the genocide ending,” Herron-Titus said. “In the past, there have been cease-fires forced…in the Lebanon War in the ‘80s by (then-president Ronald) Reagan, or even when Israel invaded Lebanon in 2006 there was a cease-fire agreement, and that has not been able to produce now.”
According to the U.S. Office of the Historian, The Reagan Administration took action in fear of the conflict between Lebanese groups backed by Syria and Israel, as well as conflict between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), creating an Arab-Israeli war.
When conflict between Israel and the PLO escalated during July of 1981, the administration had concerns that Israel would invade Lebanon. They sent their Secretary of State for Political Affairs Phillip Habib to negotiate a cease-fire for the conflict.
The Office of Historian noted that the cease-fire only delayed a larger future conflict.
Lebanon and Israel have a long history of conflicts. Herron-Titus referred to Israel and Lebanon’s armed conflicts during the summer of 2006.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, on Aug. 11, 2006 the United Nations Security Council called for a cease-fire and a full halt on both Hezbollah and Israel defenses.
“I am very, very concerned how Harris and Biden, their foreign policy, their policy on Palestine, which is like an occupied territory being colonized, settled right now, has moved so far to the right,” Herron-Titus said. “We have to have hard lines (and) just be like, we can’t let this go any farther.”
As cars passed, many honked in support of the protesters as they continued chanting. Some protesters walked through the streets with Palestinian flags.
Community member Steve, who didn’t provide the Daily Egyptian with a last name, was leading the chants and said he has a heavy heart and is very passionate about ending the conflict for the sake of Palestinian lives.
Steve said Palestinian people have the right to exist and that they don’t hate Jewish people, their problem is with the Ideology of Zionism.
As it is defined on Vox, Zionism is Israel’s national ideology with the belief that Judaism is a nationality and a religion, and that Jews deserve their own ancestral land.
SIU alumni Abed Abukhdair who was in attendance supporting the cause of voting against the two-party candidates said without speaking up nothing will be done, and it’s important to speak for those who can’t do it for themselves.
“We’re not playing into the whole… the lesser of evil thing, the two-party system,” Abukhdair said. “It’s corrupt at this point. You know, you’ve got no way for other voices to be heard. So actually, a lot of us are going to be voting third party and third-party candidates.”
Abukhdair said he’s leaning towards voting for Dr. Cornel West who is not affiliated with any party, or Green Party’s Dr. Jill Stein.
Stein is known for being pro-Palestine and has links on her websites to pledge to stop the conflict with Israel and Palestine.
According to a Detroit News article, at a support rally for Arab Americans, she stressed wanting to stop the conflict that she characterizes as a genocide in Gaza. She drew differences between herself and the Democratic and Republican candidates urging voters also to not vote for the “lesser of two evils.”
Stein is also reportedly looking for a Palestinian American for her running mate position.
According to a Politico article from last year, West responded to the Harvard student activist protesting for Palestinians and was quoted saying, “Israel and (the) United States are primarily responsible,” and “Hamas must take responsibility for killing innocent folk.”
Member of the Southern Illinois DSA Adam Ashby said the uncommitted movement focuses on people who are anti-imperialist and pushes them to vote neither Republican or Democratic to fully stand on their beliefs.
“Activism outside of the two-party system is important, but also just making sure you know people are going to the polls informed,” Ashby said. “We have a stance against both Trump and Kamala. Of course, I cannot tell you one way or the other how to vote. However, if you are going to vote for Kamala, we would hope that you know fully what her program entails.”
Ashby said when it comes to Harris’ support of Israel, many people think there’s nothing to do about it, so movements like these are here to show people there is something they can do.
“You can put pressure on these politicians. You can look for other politicians to support,” Ashby said. “You can get involved with community activism to build power within your community that circumvents the need for the federal elections.”
Correction: This story was updated to correct two errors:
– In an earlier version, Democratic Socialists of America was misspelled.
– A statement from a participant was clarified to reflect that the protest was intended to discourage voting for either of the two major parties.
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