Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberley Strassel argues that Vice President Kamala Harris bears responsibility for the anti-Israel protest chaos expected at the upcoming Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.
According to a recent report in Breitbart News, as many as 100,000 protesters are anticipated, representing various radical causes, particularly anti-Israel groups.
Strassel points out that Harris missed an opportunity to distance herself from the anti-Israel radicals who will be demonstrating throughout the convention.
She highlights Harris's recent hiring of a liaison to Muslim and Arab communities with a history of participating in radical anti-Israel protests on college campuses.
While Harris has stated that she does not agree with everything said at anti-Israel protests, she has praised the "emotion" behind them. These protests have often included antisemitic rhetoric and violence in cities and on college campuses nationwide.
Strassel wrote:
[E]nraged leftists haven't gone anywhere, as evidenced by their meltdown over Kamala Harris's consideration of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a running mate. She ducked that confrontation by going with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, yet what Democrats continue to fail to appreciate is that this crowd won't be appeased by anything less than full capitulation. That includes an end to any support for Israel.
The Coalition to March on the DNC, which includes groups like Black Lives Matter and Students for Justice in Palestine, is coordinating buses to bring protesters to Chicago.
They are also soliciting donations for supplies like "medical kits" to "withstand the repression" of local police.
Other radical organizations planning to attend include Samidoun and Behind Enemy Lines, which advocate for "direct action" beyond peaceful marching. One Behind Enemy Lines post referred to Harris and President Biden as "Killer Kamala" and "Genocide Joe."
Harris has previously shown support for violent protests. In 2020, she helped raise bail funds for rioters involved in the Black Lives Matter movement and joined protests near the White House that escalated into violence. She also labeled the federal law enforcement officers in Portland as resembling a paramilitary group.
Strassel suggests that Harris's handling of any potential disturbances at the DNC will be revealing. However, she believes that Democrats have already missed their opportunity to distance themselves from extreme elements, as demonstrated by the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik following her inability to address antisemitic protests on campus.
In conclusion, WSJ columnist Kimberley Strassel contends that Vice President Kamala Harris is responsible for the anticipated anti-Israel protest chaos at the upcoming DNC in Chicago.
Harris has missed opportunities to distance herself from radical elements and has a history of supporting violent protests. The scale of the expected demonstrations and the involvement of extremist groups suggest a volatile situation that Harris and the Democrats may struggle to control.
