Democratic National Committee
430 S Capitol St SE
Washington, DC 20003
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Desmond Tutu
Dear members of the Democratic National Committee,
In less than one month since Israel’s surgical killing of two newborn twins – Aser and Aseel, their mother, Jumana, and maternal grandmother in Gaza, the decision to intentionally deny the recognition of a Palestinian American delegate to speak at the Democratic National Convention, while allowing an Israeli American family to take center stage, was yet another blow to the Palestinian American, Arab-American, Muslim American, progressives, and peace camp population—many of whom are your constituents.
As the largest Palestinian American organization in the U.S., the American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, the Board of Directors and its members want to express our deep disappointment in the decision to deny a Palestinian voice at this important platform. We believe the Democratic party’s strength lies in its inclusivity and its commitment to justice, equality, and human rights for all people. The absence of Palestinian representation at the Convention contradicts these core values.
Your charter commits to promoting human rights globally, including the rights of marginalized and oppressed communities. This includes a strong stance against authoritarianism, discrimination, and violations of international law. Your leaders – President Biden and the Democratic presidential candidate – claim that “Israel has the right to defend itself.” However, it comes at a time when millions of Palestinians live under Israel’s oppressive occupation and are denied basic human rights. More than 1 million people in Gaza are displaced and are being starved. These profane violations are in addition to the deliberate slaughtering of caged, unarmed Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including children, medical personnel, and journalists.
Evidence of these egregious human rights violations is documented by many international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, the ICJ, and Israel’s own B’Tselem. These and other agencies declare Israel to be an apartheid state.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an issue of significant global importance, and the voices of Palestinians—who have endured decades of occupation, displacement, and systemic injustice—deserve to be heard. This is particularly true at a forum as influential as the Democratic National Convention. Excluding these voices not only silences a crucial perspective but also undermines the principles of fairness and human dignity that your party champions.
It’s essential for the Democratic party to engage with diverse viewpoints and to recognize the struggles of marginalized communities, both domestically and internationally. By denying a platform to Palestinian voices, the DNC risks alienating a significant portion of its base—including a majority of young Democratic voters—who are deeply committed to human rights and social justice. This exclusion may also reinforce the perception that the Democratic party is unwilling to take a balanced and just stance on this critical issue.
We urge the DNC to evaluate this decision and to take meaningful steps to ensure that the voices of all communities, including Palestinians, are represented. Doing so will reaffirm the Party’s dedication to justice, equity, and peace, and will strengthen its position as the Party of moral leadership in the U.S. and around the world.
We welcome a public statement on this matter and thank you for your attention. Our leaders are willing to meet with you to discuss this further and hope that the DNC will act to rectify this situation in a manner that aligns with the values we all hold dear.
Sincerely,
Fadi Harb
President, American Federation of Ramallah Palestine