One ‘uncommitted’ delegate will head to DNC this summer
PROVIDENCE — A protest vote in Rhode Island’s April 2 primary objecting to President Biden’s handling of the IsraelHamas war in Gaza has garnered the movement a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
Rhode Island will send one “uncommitted” delegate to the Democratic National Convention along with a slate of delegates committed to Biden.
“We want an immediate cease-fire,” said Danya Reda, a member of the Vote Uncommitted Rhode Island coalition and the Democratic Socialists of America. “We are three-and-ahalf months into the year now, and we see no program for lifting of the siege on Gaza and rebuilding of civilian life for Gazans. And we want an end to US military aid to Israel.”
The group has not yet chosen the “uncommitted” delegate.
Candidates needed to receive at least 15 percent of the vote in Rhode Island’s presidential primary to secure a delegate slot. The statewide “uncommitted” vote fell just short, at 14.5 percent, but it totaled 15.2 percent in the Second Congressional District, which encompasses the western part of the state.
So the “uncommitted” vote will be awarded one male district-level delegate among Rhode Island’s 30 Democratic delegates, the party announced.
Protest organizers have found success in other states as well, though it’s unclear how many people voted “uncommitted” in Rhode Island specifically because they oppose Biden’s policy toward Israel’s war in Gaza. Abbas Alawieh, a spokesperson for the Uncommitted National Movement, told the Globe on April 3 that the uncommitted effort has earned 25 delegates so far, a tiny portion of the 3,933 pledged delegates at the convention.
“Uncommitted voters are an important part of the process, voting as Democrats and making their voices heard,” Rhode Island Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Beretta-Perik said in a statement. “We are listening, and more importantly, President Biden is listening.”
Beretta-Perik described Biden as “a caring and compassionate man,” saying, “We are seeing and hearing a shift from the President. We need a peaceful resolution and aid must get to those who desperately need it. Our uncommitted voters are participating in the process as Democrats. We all agree: Trump is not the answer. In November, I am confident we will unite to reelect President Biden and Vice President Harris.”
In response, Reda said, “I have heard words from President Biden, but I have seen no action from President Biden. As one does in an interpersonal relationship, you don’t care about someone active listening as much as you care about whether they carry that into action.”
The Democratic Party announced that the elected delegates for the First Congressional District, all committed to Biden, will be: Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley; State Senator Sandra C. Cano, of Pawtucket; Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera; Kristan Peters-Hamlin; Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien; Cumberland Democratic Committee chairperson Thomas William Kane; William G. Foulkes, husband of former gubernatorial candidate Helena Buonanno Foulkes.
In the Second Congressional District, the delegates committed to Biden will be: Young Democrats of Rhode Island President Mary-Murphy Walsh; Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence executive director Melissa Carden; Climate Jobs RI field director Erica Hammond; Rhode Island AFL-CIO organizer Autumn E. Guillotte; Providence Public Schools spokesperson Jay G. Wegimont.
In addition to the delegates that are allocated based on the results of the primary and state convention, Rhode Island has nine “automatic” delegates. They include elected and party officials such as US Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, US Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, and Governor Daniel J. McKee.
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.