Tiana Robinson cheers at a Republican presidential debate watch party at the Adventure Outdoors gun store and indoor shooting range in Smyrna, Georgia, on Sept. 10, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced each other in a presidential debate for the first time at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.
As a Palestinian, while watching the debate, I couldn’t help but see through the lies and hypocrisy of both Harris and Trump.
The candidates debated on hot topics such as reproductive rights, homelessness, the economy, immigration, and gun control, among other things.
Harris discussed how she plans to fight for the reproductive rights of women, such as the right to a safe abortion in the event of rape or incest.
She also discussed the hypocrisy of Trump, and how earlier in the debate he said that he would allow abortion in the event of rape, incest, or danger on the mother or child’s life, but at the same time, there are states in the U.S. that have adopted Trump abortion laws and will not allow an abortion in the event of rape, incest, or danger to the mother.
Harris stated, “A survivor of a crime, a violation to their body, does not have the right to make a decision about what happens to their body next. That is immoral.”
Just as Harris exposed Trump for being a hypocrite, I would also like to expose Harris for being a hypocrite.
There are Palestinian women struggling to give birth in Gaza without anesthetics and safe shelter, due to the American-funded Israeli genocide on Gaza.
Countless women have been raped and subject to crimes and violations to their bodies and yet there hasn’t been a single condemnation from either presidential candidate.
Harris shouldn’t claim to care about women and girls being raped on her country’s soil, yet allow it to happen in Palestine with her money and approval.
Later in the debate, when Harris and Trump were asked to talk about their policy on the “Israel-Hamas War,” Harris perpetuated the false narrative of Hamas fighters raping women on Oct. 7, and said that she believes Israel has a “right to defend itself.”
I find it disgusting that someone in her position would continue to spread such a lie that has been debunked by major news outlets as well as President Joe Biden.
Harris is quick to condemn rape when it’s in America or Israel, but has failed to comment or condemn the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and Israeli prison guards raping Palestinian prisoners in Sde Teiman, an Israeli concentration camp for Palestinian prisoners.
Just a few short weeks ago, a Palestinian prisoner in Sde Teiman was raped and sodomised on camera by Israeli prison guards, and as a result was left unable to walk due to the injuries he suffered from the pain and terror inflicted on him. Here in America, there has been zero outrage from Harris, Trump, or the Biden Administration.
A crime that was clearly documented and published received zero condemnations, not even a slap on the wrist, and yet Harris still wants to perpetuate a debunked statement.
Harris went on to say that she does also support a “two-state solution,” a ceasefire deal, and a way to release the hostages.
Frankly, I don’t believe her empty promises. If Harris was really working “around the clock” trying to secure a ceasefire deal and prisoner exchange, the deal would have been secured by now. She could pressure Netanyahu into accepting such a deal, yet she and Biden are allowing him to act with impunity.
Trump is also anti-Palestinian. He wanted to make the debate a contest of who will support Israel more.
He said, “She hates Israel. If she’s President, Israel will not exist within two years from now. I’m pretty good at predictions, and I hope I’m wrong about that one.”
While I would like to believe Trump when he says Israel will cease to exist in two years if Harris becomes president, I cannot in good conscience vote for her or fall into his lies.
I wish I could just pick the “lesser of two evils” this November, but my conscience will not let me. I have seen my people suffer too long at the hands of both the Republican and Democratic parties.
I cannot support the two-party system anymore, not after they’ve shown me their true colors throughout this past year.
I owe it to my people to not betray them so that I can live “comfortably” in the U.S., as they are slaughtered with my tax dollars. I reject anything that plays a role in the Gazan Genocide, even if it means protesting the elections this year.
Free Palestine.