Raleigh, NC – Green Party members were on hand September 5th to welcome the North Carolina movement of Abandon Harris as it announced its launch with an inspiring press conference in front of the NC Democratic Party Headquarters. Numerous speakers from the group passionately and sometimes tearfully related their anger and disappointment about US foreign policy and the Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris over her positions on Gaza and Palestine.
It now appears that candidate Harris will not offer any real changes from that of the Biden administration, which has been ineffective in securing any permanent ceasefire and refuses to end arms shipments or financial assistance to Israel. Harris has in fact recently reiterated her unconditional support for Israel’s prosecution of a “war” against Palestinians, citing its right to self-defense while saying little about the suffering and slaughter of tens of thousands. Abandon Harris as well as the Greens view this stance as clear and cruel complicity in a genocide and in violation of international law.
The NC Green Party has been allied with members from Abandon Harris and dozens of other civic and student organizations for ceasefire protests at weekly events since October 7, 2023. It has been a tremendous effort of collaboration – and indeed bravery, given the sometimes hostile environment on public streets and campuses. These demonstrations in NC and nationwide are undeniably changing broad public opinion, if not the positions of current elected representatives.
Sadly, there is no end in sight yet to the travesties in Gaza and the West Bank. There is, however, an end to the US horse-race of an election in 2024. We must vote against genocide and support for apartheid on November 5th. It is the only strategy left for those whose politics are guided by morality.
Rebranded from Abandon Biden, the Abandon Harris movement here and across the country is now urging voters to support third-party candidates such as Jill Stein, Cornel West or Claudia de la Cruz (a write-in candidate in NC). The NC Green Party is proudly endorsing Jill Stein for President with Butch Ware for Vice President, and we are happy to welcome all who see genocide as their “red line” into our party to build our ranks for peace.
(pictured above is Anna Ordoubadi, a co-chair of the NC Green Party, at the
microphone during a live-streamed press conference by Abandon Harris in front
of the NC Democratic Party Headquarters in Raleigh on September 5, 2024)
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