US Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, on Wednesday (local time) criticised a group of people who interrupted her while they were protesting against the war in Gaza. Harris, visibly irritated, fired back at the protesters, saying they should either say they wanted former President Donald Trump to win or listen to her speaking.
While addressing a rally in Romolus in Michigan, protesters repeatedly chanted “genocide” slogans at the Vice President as a mark of protest against Israel’s war on Gaza, now into its tenth month, The Hill reported. “Kamala, Kamala you can’t hide, we won’t vote for genocide,” the protesters said and booed at her.
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Reacting to the protesters’ interruption, she said, “I’m here because we believe in democracy. Everyone’s voice matters, but I am speaking now. I am speaking now,” Harris said amid cheers from her supporters
As Gaza protesters continued to interrupt her speech, Harris took aim at them. “You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking,” she said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The protesters were escorted out of Harris’s rally as they continued protesting and raising slogans.
The Gaza war is a major issue in Michigan, a battleground state which has a high Arab-American population. Harris, as a member of President Joe Biden’s administration, has come under fire for not doing enough to help civilians in the war-ravaged coastal enclave.
A section of Democrats have expressed concerns that the Biden administration’s handling of the Gaza war could cost them votes in the November 5 election, The Hill reported. Michigan, which has 15 electoral votes, was carried by Biden in the 2020 election.
Like Biden, Harris has vowed ironclad support for Israel but has also stressed that it also mattered how the Jewish nation carried out its military response against Hamas. She also raised the high civilian casualties, calling it “devastating” and said she could be silent on seeing the sufferings of the people there.
Nearly 40,000 people have died since Israel launched a full-fledged attack against Hamas in Gaza after the Palestinian outfit attacked the Jewish nation and took some 250 hostages on October 7 last year, which triggered the current war.