WASHINGTON (EFE).— Several hundred people demonstrated yesterday on the National Esplanade, a few meters from where Vice President Kamala Harris offered her symbolic campaign closing rally.
Shouting “Free Palestine” and demanding an end to Israel’s war on Gaza, protesters booed the Democratic candidate and banged frying pans during the nearly half-hour, minutes that the speech lasted.
The protest took place next to the security cordon of “La Elipse”, the place chosen by Kamala Harris with one week left before the November 5 elections, in which she will face the former president and Republican candidate, Donald Trump.
The park from which Kamala spoke, with the White House in the background, is the same place from which Trump addressed the mob of followers who stormed the Capitol in 2021.
“Support Palestine, end the Occupation now,” read some of the banners directed against the vice president in a National Esplanade packed with thousands of people who could not enter the event.
Kamala did not make any direct mention of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in her speech, but she did emphasize that under her eventual mandate the United States will support its “friends.”
“New leadership”
In another part of her speech, the vice president said that the United States needs “new leadership” and asked citizens to “turn the page” on what her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, represents.
Kamala portrayed her rival as “unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed by grievance and in search of unchecked power.”
He also attacked Trump for having recently said that he is willing to use the Army to combat the “internal enemy” of the United States, in an alleged reference to his political rivals.
Mrs. Harris was supported by her husband, Doug Emhoff, but highlighted the absence of President Joe Biden, who has had a very discreet profile since last July he resigned from running for re-election and passed the baton to her.
However, in a call with journalists organized by the NGO Voto Latino, Biden came out yesterday in defense of Puerto Rico, which a comedian called a “floating island of garbage” at a Trump rally in New York, and pointed out that the only trash you see are “your followers.”
“He doesn’t care at all about the Latin community. He is a failed businessman. He only cares about the billionaire friends he had and for whom he accumulated wealth. And he says that immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country,” he highlighted.
The Democratic president insisted on his criticism: “Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Well, let me tell you something. (…) The only trash I see floating around is his followers. His demonization is unconscionable and un-American. “It is totally contrary to everything we have done,” he said.
A White House spokesperson indicated in
The Republican side, however, was quick to react. Trump himself asked at a rally in Allentown, a town in Pennsylvania with a Hispanic American majority, that Biden be forgiven for those words.
“He really doesn’t know what he said. It’s a terrible, terrible thing, but he doesn’t really know it. “I’m convinced he likes me more than Kamala.”
In that same meeting, Senator Marco Rubio also came out on the defensive: “I hope his campaign is about to apologize for what he just said. “We are not trash, we are patriots who love the United States,” he concluded.
Free Trump ally
Steve Bannon, Trump’s old ally, is free after four months in prison for contempt of the US Congress.
Bannon
Bannon was released from prison yesterday after serving a four-month sentence for disobeying a congressional subpoena regarding the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Federal Correctional Facility
He left the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, according to Kristie Breshears, spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Podcast
He was scheduled to hold a press conference yesterday in Manhattan to talk about his time in prison, and he also resumed his podcast.
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**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Maria Gonzalez on Recent Protest During Kamala Harris’ Rally**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Gonzalez. The protest outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally has garnered significant attention. What did you make of the protesters’ messages and their timing?
**Dr. Gonzalez:** Thank you for having me. The timing and location of the protest are indeed significant. With the elections just around the corner, demonstrators chose to voice their strong discontent regarding U.S. foreign policy towards Palestine, especially in the context of the current conflict in Gaza. The repeated chants of “Free Palestine” and the banners calling for an end to the occupation signify a growing urgency within parts of the public regarding this issue.
**Editor:** The protest came during a key moment, with Harris positioned to make her case against Donald Trump. What impact do you think such protests have on political campaigns?
**Dr. Gonzalez:** Protests like this can have a dual impact. On one side, they can energize a candidate’s base by highlighting critical issues that matter to constituents, while on the other side, they can distract and detract from the candidate’s message. In this case, while Harris emphasized the need for “new leadership” and highlighted Trump’s qualities, the backdrop of dissent challenges her ability to unify voters around her campaign.
**Editor:** Interestingly, Harris did not address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in her speech. Do you think this was a strategic decision?
**Dr. Gonzalez:** It’s certainly possible. Politicians often tread carefully around contentious issues, especially during campaign season. Harris may have opted not to directly engage with the protests to avoid alienating potential voters. However, failing to acknowledge a major humanitarian crisis can also come across as evasive, potentially angering constituents who feel strongly about the issue.
**Editor:** The protest location near the White House adds another layer of context. How do you see this affecting the narrative around her campaign and Trump’s?
**Dr. Gonzalez:** The proximity to the White House can intensify the symbolism of the demonstration—it’s a direct challenge not only to Harris but also to the Biden administration’s policies. This dynamic could reinforce Trump’s narrative of a government disconnected from the people, while making Harris’ campaign about responding to grassroots concerns even more challenging. Given the historical context of Trump’s previous rally at that location, it may also be a reminder of the divided sentiments within the country.
**Editor:** how do you foresee this situation evolving leading up to the November elections?
**Dr. Gonzalez:** As we approach the elections, I expect to see more mobilization of various interest groups. Partisan divides will likely deepen, and we could see more protests as voters demand accountability on significant issues like foreign policy, economy, and social justice. Candidates, including Harris, will need to find ways to address these issues head-on while still appealing to a broader electorate. The stakes are high, and the political climate is volatile, which can dramatically shift the dynamics of the election.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Gonzalez, for your insights on this important topic. It will be interesting to see how these elements come into play as the election approaches.
**Dr. Gonzalez:** Thank you for having me. It’s certainly a pivotal moment in U.S. politics.