MA No Preference movement looks to make Gaza an issue at Democratic National Convention

In Massachusetts more than 60,000 Democratic presidential primary voters filled in the circle for the "no preference" option, in many cases eschewing the Biden/Harris ticket to convey their distaste for the U.S. policy in the Middle East and its support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Just one state delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week is listed as uncommitted on the Massachusetts Democratic Party list of delegates . But a spokesman for the party indicated Tuesday that the delegate, Rep. Christopher Worrell, D-Boston, has pledged to support Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Nonetheless, on Tuesday morning a group calling itself the Vote No Preference/Uncommitted Massachusetts coalition held a news conference to urge Democratic National Committee delegates from Massachusetts to be "ceasefire delegates" who would support a call for a permanent ceasefire and an arms embargo on Israel within the party platform.

The Massachusetts movement is affiliated with the National Uncommitted Movement , an organization that saw the primaries as a means to initiate change in national policy.

The organization hopes its delegates can meet with the candidates at the convention to discuss the U.S. Middle Eastern policy, said Lara Jirmanus, one of the organizers of the Tuesday news conference. Jirmanus is a physician with Cambridge Health Alliance who is active with the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard.

Attending the planning meeting were representatives from other Massachusetts organizations, including Dr. Karameh Kuemmerle, a clinical pediatric neurologist at Boston Children’s Hospital who specializes in traumatic brain injury and epilepsy and has recently returned from Palestine; Eli Gerzon, an Arlington resident and member of the Jewish Voice for Peace Action; Somerville City Councilor Willie Burnley Jr.; and recent Ipswich High School graduate and Tufts freshman David Seaton, the youngest delegate planning to attend the convention.

Kuemmerle discussed the massive destruction the war has inflicted on Gaza and its people. While she said at least 40,000 people have died, the exact toll is uncertain as those trapped under the rubble have not been counted.

“We are dealing with a massive medical crisis and a massive psychological crisis, and we pay for it as taxpayers,” Kuemmerle said.

Seaton, who has family living in Israel, believes the escalation of violence serves to make the world less safe.

“Young people are seeing the crisis with fresh eyes, they lack the connections to Israel of past generations,” Seaton said, adding he believes the Democratic Party will lose the support of American youth over the issue. “Now is the time for the party to win these voters back."

The former president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association , Merrie Najimy, spoke as a member of the offshoot group MTA Rank & File for Palestine, urging the U.S. to fund schools rather than weapons.

Somerville was the first Massachusetts municipality to pass a resolution calling for an enduring ceasefire in Gaza, which was passed in January. It was soon joined by Cambridge and Medford, and more than 100 U.S. municipalities have also demanded an enduring ceasefire.

The group is planning demonstrations on Sunday in Springfield and in Boston to urge the U.S. to change policy.

"We respect the rights of delegates to express their opinion and to be heard on the issues they are passionate about, but it must be done in a way that is respectful to all the other delegates and speakers at the convention, who also deserve to have their voices heard, said Steve Kerrigan, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. “We are looking forward to a productive and historic convention in Chicago."

Several Central Massachusetts delegates who plan to attend the convention declined to comment. Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty was not available for comment.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: MA No Preference movement looks to make Gaza an issue at Democratic National Convention