Around 20 pro-Palestine supporters protested Vice President Kamala Harris’s rally at the Alliant Center Wednesday night, vowing not to vote for her in the Nov. 5 election and denouncing her stance on Israel’s war in Gaza.
The rally, organized by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), featured chants in English and Arabic attacking Harris, President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump. SJP said Harris had made her “stance clear on Gaza” and her words of support for Palestinians weren’t backed by action.
In a statement to The Daily Cardinal, SJP dismissed arguments their refusal to vote for Harris could lead to a Trump victory or such victory would be worse for Palestinians.
“It is not our responsibility to vote Democratic candidates into office, and it will not be the fault of Palestinians if Harris loses,” SJP said. “Whatever the outcome of this coming election, the onus lies in the Democratic Party, and their failure to recognize atrocities in Gaza, and their failure to listen as we’ve called on them to for the past year.
Wednesday's event drew fewer people than a similar protest SJP held during Harris’ last Madison rally in September but featured many of the same themes.
The protest started at 3:50 p.m. At 5 p.m., officials stopped taking more rally-goers. At 5:25, it started to rain and the protesters dispersed.
Protesters held flags and signs reading “No vote for Harris the children killer,” and handed flyers out to rally attendees depicting injured and malnourished Palestinian children, with the words “HISTORY IS WATCHING YOU” in bold.
“At the end of the day [Harris] made it clear that she’ll continue arming this genocide, and a vote for that is unconscionable,” SJP said in their statement.
In the Democratic primary in April, Dane County — driven by UW-Madison student wards — voted uninstructed at higher rates than any county in the state as a protest against the Biden administration’s military aid to Israel. Some uninstructed voters previously told the Cardinal they don’t plan on voting for Harris on Nov. 5.
Just feet away, officers from several law enforcement agencies monitored the protest and directed rally attendees to the entrance. A Dane County Sheriff’s Office squad car was parked behind the protesters and Madison Police Department officers stood behind the entrance gate in front of three MPD vehicles.
Some rally attendees took the flyers, while others avoided eye contact and walked past. A few cars honked at protesters as they drove into the venue. One attendee held up his fist as he grabbed a flier. Two young men taunted the protesters as they passed, one held up a dog tag around his neck. Dog tags are a pro-Israel symbol in support of Israeli hostages.
Despite law enforcement’s attempt at keeping protesters out, a small group of pro-Palestine protesters made it in. They called for a ceasefire and held up a banner, interrupting Harris’ speech.
“We all want the war to end,” Harris said to the protesters. “But right now, I am speaking.”
Harris’ statements were met with applause and the protesters were escorted out shortly after their interruption.
Harris has responded similarly to pro-Palestine protesters at past rallies, including at her Harrisburg rally earlier the same day.
“Her response to [the protesters] was kind of just, I don't know, I found it underwhelming,” UW-Madison student and rally-goer Ranvir Raheja said. He continued and remarked how he thought her words were “childish” and “disheartening.”
Jake Wesson is a staff writer and photographer for The Daily Cardinal. He has written stories covering politics, protests, public safety and more. You can follow him on Twitter @jake_wesson11.
Drew Wesson is a staff writer and photographer for The Daily Cardinal. He has written stories covering public safety, protests, political events and more. You can follow him on Twitter @drewwesson1.
