Harris Responds To Protestors At Her Event Who Interrupted To Criticize The Biden Administration’s Response To Israel’s War In Gaza
Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ national book tour took another tense turn in Chicago when protesters interrupted her conversation with journalist Michele Norris. The event, promoting her memoir 107 Days, was disrupted several times by pro-Palestine activists accusing her of complicity in the Biden administration’s support of Israel during the war in Gaza.
Security removed multiple protesters from the venue as the crowd chanted for them to leave. NBC Chicago reported that a man and woman were escorted out after separately shouting over Harris’ remarks.
‘Are You the Same Person Telling People Not to Vote?’
In one viral moment from the Chicago stop, Harris broke from her prepared remarks to respond to the disruption.
“Are you the same person that was telling people not to vote?” she said, referring to progressive efforts during the 2024 campaign urging Democrats to abstain or cast “uncommitted” ballots to protest U.S. policy on Gaza.
Without mentioning Israel or Palestine directly, Harris shifted focus to voter turnout, saying politicians must “do some deep thinking” about the third of Americans who didn’t vote in the last election and the consequences of that silence.
Tying Protest to Voter Apathy
Harris reminded the audience that she’s not in office: “So here’s the thing, I am not president,” she said after another interruption. “And if you want to talk about legacy, let’s talk about the legacy of mass deportations, of people not voting, and Donald Trump.”
During another exchange, she pushed back further. “Why don’t you go to the White House and protest?” she said when chants about Gaza erupted again.
Pattern of Protests Across Her Tour
The Chicago stop is the latest in a string of disruptions. Harris has faced similar protests in New York and Washington, D.C., where she acknowledged the demonstrators’ anger but pointed out her limited influence.
“I understand your concern and how you feel,” she told protesters in New York. “And the reality of it is, where we are right now didn’t have to be this way, in terms of a blank check that this president has given.”
Her 107 Days tour, which spans 15 cities, reflects on her short-lived 2024 presidential campaign after President Biden’s withdrawal from the race against Donald Trump. But as Harris returns to the public stage, her efforts to move the conversation toward civic engagement keep running headfirst into a global crisis that refuses to be ignored.
