Harris and Walz meet with ‘uncommitted’ leaders, union members during Detroit campaign stop
The movement’s founders both had a brief chance to speak with Harris and Walz at the rally of roughly 15,000 supporters at Detroit Metro Airport.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz continued their Presidential campaign with a rally at Detroit Metro Airport on Wednesday.
The campaign, still in its infancy, drew a crowd of about 15,000 to the airplane hangar – mostly members of the United Auto Workers and other supporters. While addressing the crowd, Harris was interrupted by protesters opposed to Israel’s war in Gaza with Hamas. At first, Harris said to those trying to disrupt her, “I am here because I believe in democracy, and everybody’s voice matters.”
But Harris lost patience as the shouting continued, with protesters accusing her of supporting genocide in Gaza. That led her to deliver a sharper rejoinder.
“You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that,” she said, talking over the protesters. “Otherwise, I’m speaking.”
Uncommitted National Movement founders Layla Elabed and Abbas Alawieh both had an opportunity to speak briefly with Harris and Walz at the rally.
The two Uncommitted leaders each shared their concerns about the U.S. supplying weapons to Israel, and requested a formal meeting with Harris to further discuss their demands of an arms embargo and a permanent ceasefire.
The vice president shared her sympathies and expressed an openness to a meeting with Uncommitted leaders to discuss an arms embargo.
“Michigan voters want to support you, but we need a policy that will save lives in Gaza right now.”
— Uncommitted National Movement Co-founder Layla Elabed
During her exchange with Harris, Elabed broke down in tears and said: “I’m Palestinian, I’m a founder of Uncommitted. Michigan voters want to support you, but we need a policy that will save lives in Gaza right now. I meet with community members every day in Michigan who are losing tens and hundreds of family members in Gaza. Right now, we need an arms embargo. Will you meet with us to talk about an arms embargo?”
Alawieh, who is also a DNC delegate, told the vice president he appreciated her leadership and wanted to support her, but “voters need to see you turn a new page on Gaza policy that includes embracing an arms embargo to save lives.”
Shortly after her remarks Wednesday, Harris won the backing of Assad I. Turfe, the deputy Wayne County executive, who is the highest ranking Arab American official in Michigan’s largest county. Turfe told The Associated Press that he spoke with Harris backstage at the event before his endorsement.
“Kamala Harris embodies the America we deserve – an America that stands for strength, inclusivity and unwavering commitment to justice,” Turfe said in a statement. “I wholeheartedly endorse Kamala Harris, as she represents the true spirit of our nation and the values we hold dear.”
Turfe also pressed the need for a ceasefire, but said that Harris “gives us the best chance of achieving peace in that region moving forward.”
Over 40,000 civilians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza. The Uncommitted movement started in Michigan and spread nationwide during the Presidential Primary process as a way for voters to show displeasure with President Joe Biden’s continued support of Israel.
Speaking at a news conference in Dearborn on Wednesday, Elabed said continuing to support Israel is anti-democratic when polling has shown most Americans want a ceasefire.
“So we will continue pressuring the Biden administration to do the moral thing and to also carry out the core tenets of the Democratic Party that currently do not align with this U.S. policy, Gaza policy as it stands,” she said.
There will be 30 Uncommitted delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this month.
During her speech, Harris touched on the successes of the Biden Administration – including the CHIPS Act that aimed to bolster electric vehicle production. That drew applause from the scores of union members in the crowd.
Harris also tried to highlight the differences between her campaign and that of former President Donald Trump.
“What kind of country do we want to live in, a country of freedom, compassion and rule of law, or a country of chaos, fear and hate?”
However, when the crowd started chanting “Lock Him Up”… Harris shut that down.
“Here’s the thing, the courts are gonna handle that,” she told the crowd. “We’re gonna beat him in November.”
‘Lock Her Up’ has been a familiar refrain at Trump rallies dating back to his first campaign against Hillary Clinton. Trump is still facing sentencing in New York after being convicted of 34 counts of fraud.
Walz, a former teacher and National Guardsman, criticized Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had the worst crisis of a generation, and he froze during COVID,” he said. “People lost their lives because of that.”
Walz’ strong support from organized labor was reportedly a factor in Harris’ decision to pick him as a running mate.
During his speech at the rally, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain talked about class warfare between workers and the rich, as well as the union’s successes — referencing the union’s strike at General Motors plants five years ago.
”Donald Trump said nothing, and Donald Trump did nothing to help auto workers,” said Fain. “You want to know where Kamala Harris was in 2019? she was on the picket line for striking workers.”
The union had backed President Joe Biden, but held off on endorsing Harris until doing so last week. Fain had pushed the Harris campaign to select Governor Walz, saying the 2024 presidential election was a way for people to strike back against “the billionaire class.”
“This is our generation’s defining moment, and this election is our opportunity to take our lives back,” said Fain. “So Michigan, let’s get to work.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also spoke at the rally on Wednesday, telling the crowd that Walz is “the real deal. He’s the only governor I know who curses more than I do, and I have a feeling that’s about to change.”
Whitmer — who did not make the short list of possible vice president nominees on the Democratic ticket and denied any interest in leaving Michigan — also told rally goers not to put their faith in Trump.
“We cannot trust Donald Trump, and we must make sure he does not get back into the White House,” she said. “I mean, think about it, you wouldn’t buy a used car from this guy. How can you expect him to support the auto industry?”
Sen. J.D. Vance made his own stops in Michigan and Wisconsin on Wednesday, intent on showing that Republicans will compete in the “blue wall” of Midwestern states. He called Walz a “crazy radical” and said that Harris’ decision to pick him as a running mate shows that she “bends the knee to the far left of the Democratic Party.”
Harris and Walz are meeting with more local UAW members in metro Detroit on Thursday.
Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.
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