A delegate from Florida, Nadia Ahmad, voiced strong criticism of the Biden administration during President Biden’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, linking it to the ongoing war in Gaza. Ahmad, a law professor at Barry University, was involved in a protest where she and others displayed a banner saying “STOP ARMING ISRAEL” just as Biden began speaking.
Amid the demonstration, video footage captured a man hitting Ahmad on the head with a sign that read “we love Joe.” After this, two men intervened and removed their banner. Ahmad stated that her protest aimed to stand in solidarity with those facing arrest for simply speaking out against powerful institutions.
“The Biden administration seems ready to sacrifice anything to support Israel, even if it means disregarding the lives lost,” she remarked, emphasizing the need for the situation in Palestine to be recognized and addressed at the international level.
She expressed that the administration “might overlook the casualties,” whether they number in the tens of thousands, simply to maintain political control. She added, “We cannot let the ongoing violence be overshadowed by electoral considerations.” Originally, the group had more participants, but some were reportedly discouraged by peers or leaders from joining the protest.
Initially, they planned to chant “ceasefire now,” but with few in attendance, holding the more provocative banner felt necessary. Steiner, who helped create the banner, mentioned that it was smuggled into the venue.
During his speech, Biden acknowledged the protesters’ concerns, stating, “Those protesters out in the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides.” He emphasized efforts focused on preventing the war from escalating and providing aid to those impacted in Gaza.
Current reports indicate that Israel’s military actions have resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, a number that may be higher due to unaccounted casualties. The conflict began last October following a violent attack by Hamas, which claimed numerous lives and led to hostage situations.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.