Rep. Summer Lee, a progressive Democrat from Pennsylvania, recently visited pro-Palestinian protesters at a Pittsburgh campus, where she noted that college students are not discussing their excitement to vote for President Biden in the upcoming November elections. The students are looking for acknowledgment from leadership that their needs and desires for a different direction in government are being heard. Lee’s visit to the University of Pittsburgh came amidst a new CBS News poll showing Mr. Biden in a tight race with former President Donald Trump in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Lee, who has been critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, recently won her primary contest in Pennsylvania’s 12th District. This victory served as a test for Democratic incumbents, especially those in the left-wing, progressive “Squad” of Congress, to see if their opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza would hurt their chances. In the primary, Lee’s Democratic opponent, Bhavini Patel, ran as more of a moderate and challenged Lee’s stance on breaking with President Biden’s support for Israel. Lee was one of the lawmakers who voted against the House bill providing $26.4 billion to Israel and was also an early advocate for a cease-fire in Gaza.
On “Face the Nation,” Lee was questioned about how she could ask progressives to vote for President Biden in November if a cease-fire in Gaza is a matter of conscience for her. Lee emphasized looking at the totality of a candidate rather than focusing on one issue, urging voters to consider the popular stance of advocating for peace and a different direction in U.S. policies towards the war in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has labeled U.S. college protesters as “antisemitic mobs,” likening them to events in German universities in the 1930s. Lee refuted this claim, stating that the protesters, including Jewish students, were united in their message for change and that labeling all criticisms of Israel as antisemitic is dangerous.
Lee’s message to Netanyahu and others is that the students she visited are not looking to demonize Israel or Jewish people but rather seek a different approach to policies and actions that are affecting the lives of Palestinians. She highlighted the solidarity and unity among the students from diverse backgrounds who are all advocating for a change in direction. Lee emphasized the importance of listening to the voices of those who have strong feelings about the situation in Gaza and working towards a more peaceful resolution. Netanyahu’s attempt to portray the protesters as evil or antisemitic is dismissed by Lee, who sees their messages as a call for understanding and change.
In conclusion, Rep. Summer Lee’s visit to pro-Palestinian protesters at a Pittsburgh campus highlighted the disconnect between college students and their excitement to vote for President Biden in the upcoming elections. Her stance on Israel’s military actions in Gaza has drawn attention to the challenges faced by progressive Democrats in Congress and the need to balance personal convictions with political alliances. By advocating for a different approach to U.S. policies towards the conflict in Gaza, Lee is urging voters to consider candidates holistically and prioritize peace and change. The solidarity among the protesters, including Jewish students, shows that criticisms of Israel are not inherently antisemitic but rather a call for awareness and resolution. Lee’s message of listening to diverse voices and working towards understanding and peace resonates in a time of political and international tensions.
