When Heba Mohammad, a 32-year-old organizer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, first got involved in Democratic campaigning in the mid-2010s, she hoped to see a shift in public attitudes towards Palestine reflected in the party at large. Now, she is using her experience working on presidential campaigns for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020 to rally a protest vote during Wisconsin’s Democratic primary on Tuesday. Wisconsin is a key battleground state, and advocates are using the vote to protest against President Biden’s support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The movement in Wisconsin follows similar primary protests in other states as Biden seeks re-election in 2024. The idea is to encourage voters to vote for options like “uncommitted” or “uninstructed” instead of supporting Biden. Rights groups have accused Israel of apartheid, and Mohammad, along with other activists, feel a sense of disillusionment with Biden’s policies towards Palestine.
The “uncommitted” movement gained momentum ahead of Michigan’s primary and has since spread to other states like Minnesota, Washington, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. Critics point out that it is difficult to determine exactly how many of the “uncommitted” votes are specifically related to the Gaza protest.
Despite the outcome of the Wisconsin primary, activists like Zeina Ashrawi Hutchison believe that the movement has already made a significant impact by raising awareness about the Palestinian cause and promoting unity within the Palestine movement. Mohammad, who once worked on Biden’s campaign, now refuses to support any candidate or party that is not clearly pro-Palestine.
As the movement gains traction, Mohammad is leveraging her organizing expertise to rally support for the “uncommitted” vote in Wisconsin. While the primaries may be a formality, the energy behind the movement has caught the attention of prominent Democrats and donors, who warn that Biden should not overlook the message being sent. Mohammad believes that the Democratic Party is missing out on the talents of individuals like her and risks alienating grassroots activists if it fails to listen to their concerns.
Overall, the protest movement in Wisconsin and beyond underscores a larger issue within the Democratic Party, as activists demand accountability and a shift in policy towards Palestine.