Know Your Enemy

[UNLOCKED] The Uncommitted Movement (w/ Waleed Shahid & Abbas Alawieh)

Sep 9, 2024

59:35

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Waleed Shahid, a key organizer of the Uncommitted Movement, joins fellow activist Abbas Alawieh, an Arab-American DNC delegate from Michigan, to discuss recent political shifts within the Democratic Party. They explore the Uncommitted Movement’s grassroots strategies for pro-peace initiatives and the challenges faced by Palestinian-American advocates. Shahid and Alawieh reflect on their community’s disillusionment with party leadership, the significance of their demands at the DNC, and the pressing need for change to align with the pro-ceasefire sentiments of their constituents.

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Quick takeaways

The Uncommitted Movement originated as a grassroots response to the Democratic Party's perceived disconnect from communities affected by the Gaza conflict.

Despite achieving significant community engagement and over 101,000 pro-peace votes, the movement faced systemic hostility and exclusion from party leadership during critical discussions.

Activists stress the necessity of building coalitions within the Democratic Party to advocate for Palestinian rights while addressing broader progressive issues for future electoral success.

Deep dives

Origins of the Uncommitted Movement

The uncommitted movement emerged as a response to the deepening disconnection between Democratic Party leadership and particular constituencies, notably those affected by the Gaza conflict. Initiated through grassroots organizing, key figures recognized the opportunity within the Democratic primary processes, especially in Michigan, to push the narrative towards a pro-peace agenda. Notably, the movement drew inspiration from historic events, such as Barack Obama’s success with the uncommitted option in the 2008 Michigan primary, framing it as a legitimate avenue to express dissatisfaction with current policies. Through significant community outreach and engagement, the movement sought to remind voters that their concerns around issues like the ongoing war in Gaza mattered in shaping the direction of the Democratic Party.

Intro

2min

Emergence of the Uncommitted Movement and Its Strategic Implications

4min

Political Disillusionment and Community Struggles in Southeastern Michigan

2min

Mobilizing the Uncommitted: Engaging Disillusioned Voters in the Primaries

5min

Grassroots Voices and Electoral Strategy

19min

Democratic Dissonance on Palestine

27min

Matt and Sam interview Waleed Shahid and Abbas Alawieh, two organizers of the Uncommitted Movement, about their experiences in the months following October 7 as well as before, during, and after the Democratic National Convention. As an Arab-American from Michigan and one of the state's two Uncommitted delegates to the DNC, what has Abbas heard from the people in his community, and what has he heard from his party? Why try to work within the Democratic Party to change its approach to Israel-Palestine? What were the Uncommitted Movement's "asks" at the convention, and why were they all refused? How does the Democratic Party, institutionally, need to change to better reflect the broadly pro-ceasefire views of its voters? And is there any hope that a possible Harris administration will be an improvement on the dreadful status quo?

Sources:

Waleed Shahid, “Why the Uncommitted Movement Was a Success at the DNC,” Jacobin, Aug 27, 2024

"'The Uncommitted Movement Is the Floor of What’s Possible:' An Interview with Waleed Shahid," Dissent, Aug 16, 2024

Ben Terris, "A 'Ceasefire Delegate' Finds Lots to Do but Little to Celebrate," Washington Post, Aug 21, 2024

Akbar Shahid Ahmed, "Gaza War Critics Are Inspired By The 1964 DNC — And They're Playing The Long Game," HuffPost, Aug 23, 2024

Noah Lanard, "Why Were Democrats Afraid to Hear a Palestinian?" Mother Jones, Aug 31, 2024

— "Here Is the Speech That the Uncommitted Movement Wants to Give at the DNC," Mother Jones, Aug 23, 2024

Ta-Nehisi Coates, "A Palestinian American’s Place Under the Democrats’ Big Tent?" Vanity Fair, Aug 21, 2024