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Progressive organizers in the United States have been grappling with how to challenge the Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Despite limited national organizing capacity, the Uncommitted campaign, initiated by veteran progressive strategist Waleed Shahid, emerged during the Democratic primaries as a way to protest Biden’s stance on Gaza. Shahid, director of the Bloc and former spokesperson for Justice Democrats, sheds light on the movement’s efforts to shift the Democratic Party’s approach to Israel-Palestine amid ongoing conflict.
A protest encampment for Palestine at Columbia University, New York, April 23, 2024. (Pamela Drew/CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED)
Shahid reflects on the challenges of translating protest into politics and the potential for the Uncommitted movement to shape future progressive electoral efforts. As discussions on Gaza and US foreign policy continue, the dynamics between different progressive factions, generational attitudes, and the role of key constituencies like Muslim and Arab voters in influencing political decisions come to the forefront.
Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate ahead of the Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Uncommitted National Movement)
Shahid also discusses the potential outcomes of increased Muslim political organizing, the complexities of progressive movements aligning on foreign policy, and the impact of a hypothetical Trump victory on the progressive movement’s future. Through reflections on past organizing efforts and the shifting landscape of US politics, Shahid provides insights on the evolving path forward for progressive activists and organizations.
A large billboard thanking U.S. President Joe Biden for his support for Israel is seen above the Ayalon Highway in Ramat Gan, October 11, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
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