Across Maryland at farmers’ markets, mosques, and through phone calls, dozens of activists are encouraging opponents of Israel’s assault on Gaza, which has resulted in over 33,000 Palestinian deaths, to vote for “Uncommitted” in the state’s May 14 primary election.
Hena Zuberi, a leader of the Listen to Maryland coalition which is spearheading the movement, told the Baltimore Beat, “By selecting ‘uncommitted’ on the ballot, we are protesting to inform President Biden that we do not support his funding of war and genocide,” said the Howard County resident and mother of four.
The “Uncommitted” movement in Maryland views voting as a key tactic to push for a ceasefire. It is supported by Jewish Voice for Peace Action (the 501(c)(4) sister organization of Jewish Voice for Peace), chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America, and others.
There’s no apparent end in sight to the conflict that’s entered its sixth month. It has destroyed much of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and internally displaced hundreds of thousands of Gazans.
As Biden has won resounding victories in the primaries, over half a million people, or about one in ten Democrats, have chosen “uncommitted,” “uninstructed,” or “no preference” in primaries across states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut (as of April 5). Supporters argue this is the reason some Democrats — such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some senators — who had previously opposed ceasefire have recently changed their position.
Zuberi was inspired after phone banking with Michigan’s “vote uncommitted” movement. Organizers beat expectations when over 100,000, or approximately 13%, of Michigan Democratic primary voters opted for “uncommitted” in the state’s February 27 primary. In 2020, Biden’s victory over Trump in Michigan was by 154,000 votes, a crucial win on his path to the presidency. And organizers have taken those tactics nationwide.
But critics say that not voting for Biden is tantamount to supporting a second term for Trump.
“A second Trump term would be catastrophic, affecting fundamental rights, our democracy domestically, and foreign policy, including his advocacy for a Muslim ban,” Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed to CNN’s State of the Union prior to her state’s primary.
However, Zuberi rejects that notion, arguing that the Democratic primary is a “safe” venue for protesting the Biden administration’s continued military support for Israel.
“This is a Democratic primary; Trump isn’t a candidate. It’s about President Biden’s policies,” Zuberi counters.
Public opinion had already begun to shift against the conflict before an April 1 Israeli strike that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen. The group had been attempting to deliver aid to Palestinians on the brink of famine. The strike drew international criticism of Israel’s military actions.
“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” CEO Erin Gore said in response to the attacks.
A Gallup poll released on March 28 showed that 55% of Americans and 75% of Democrats disapprove of Israel’s actions in Gaza, an increase from 45% and 63% in November, respectively.
Following the aid workers’ deaths, a growing number of Democrats — including 40 Congresspeople — have publicly called for the Biden administration to withhold weapons to Israel, but thus far the White House has not not tied the continuation of military aid to the safeguarding of civilian lives.
Zuberi says she’s trained over 5,000 individuals in phone banking and organizing meetings with officials, and notes the widespread disillusionment among young activists who feel their calls for a ceasefire have been ignored.
“These activists, who previously campaigned door-to-door and were instrumental in Biden’s victories in key swing states, should not be overlooked.”
According to a January Economist/YouGov poll, 49% of young people believe “Israel is committing genocide against Palestinian civilians,” and 28% advocate for an “immediate ceasefire.”
A longtime genocide researcher and advocate for survivors, Zuberi argues Israel has overreached in its military response to Hamas’s surprise attack on October 6 that killed over 1,100 Israelis and the capture of hundreds of hostages. “Self defense is not a justification for committing genocide on another group of people,” she said.
The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take steps to abide by the Genocide Convention. Aid groups have warned that most of Gaza’s population faces catastrophic food insecurity, as Israel continues to block aid and medical supplies from entering Gaza.
Israel and its supporters maintain they are doing everything to protect civilians while rooting out Hamas, the political and military organization that attacked Israel on October 6 and killed over 1,100 Israelis.
But such claims have been undermined by a new report in +972 Magazine, which is jointly run by Palestinians and Israelis, that found Israel has targeted tens of thousands of Gazans suspected to be connected to militant groups with an artificial intelligence program known to have a 10% error rate, and systematically attacked them while they were in their homes with their families.
Former State Department official Josh Paul, who resigned in protest of the war effort, argues the Biden administration is violating U.S. law by continuing to fund Israel’s military assault, which continues to cause widespread devastation. “Following the United States’ law must be a bedrock of anything the United States does, and there are clear legal requirements here,” he told CNN.
Editors’ Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that this movement was supported by local chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace. Baltimore Beat regrets the error.