CHICAGO − Frustrated after being denied the opportunity for a Palestinian-American to address the Democratic National Convention regarding the situation in Gaza, a coalition of uncommitted delegates concluded their protest outside the United Center on Thursday with a new request: they want Vice President Kamala Harris to meet with Arab-American and Muslim communities in Michigan and other locations.

They have set a deadline of September 15 for these meetings to take place.

While they didn’t specify any actions they might take if the meetings aren’t held or if their requests for halting U.S. arms shipments to Israel and demanding a cease-fire in Gaza go unaddressed, organizers hinted at possible consequences. This could mean a possible withdrawal of support for Harris in the upcoming fall campaign or a diminished effort to promote her to voters.

In key swing states like Michigan, where significant Arab-American and Muslim populations reside, particularly around Dearborn, failure to engage these communities could prove detrimental to Harris’ electoral prospects against Republican Donald Trump, despite the organizers emphasizing they do not want to see Trump win.

“I believe it could severely harm her campaign,” stated Layla Elabed, a Dearborn resident and one of the founders advocating for primary voters in Michigan and nationwide to remain uncommitted rather than support President Joe Biden, in protest of his backing for Israel’s military actions in Gaza against Hamas.

The organizers held a press conference on Thursday evening, just hours before Harris was scheduled to deliver her speech accepting the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, marking her as the first Black woman and the first woman of South Asian descent to be a major party nominee in U.S. history.

Harris secured her nomination late last month after Biden bowed out and endorsed her candidacy.

For months, the uncommitted movement, which originated in Michigan, alongside the 30 uncommitted delegates elected nationwide, has been pushing for a pro-Palestinian representative to be featured prominently at the convention. This campaign gained momentum during the current week in Chicago.

However, on Wednesday night, organizers were informed by Democratic officials that their request had been denied.

This was particularly disheartening given that the convention included speeches from individuals like Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son Sagui is a hostage in Gaza, and the parents of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who, despite their circumstances, called for a cease-fire to end the suffering of innocent people in Gaza.

The uncommitted delegates expressed disappointment over the rejection, insisting it was only fair for a Palestinian voice to be heard concerning the tragedies occurring in Gaza due to Israel’s military response to Hamas following their attacks on Israel on October 7.

Efforts for a cease-fire have faced challenges, as the U.S. and other nations struggle to mediate a resolution that includes the release of Hamas-held prisoners in Israel and hostages in Gaza.

Waleed Shahid, one of the movement’s founders, indicated earlier on Thursday that the Democratic Party proposed several meetings with senior campaign officials but refused to provide a speaking opportunity. He noted that the Harris campaign claimed the group couldn’t “shape the most pivotal moment of the vice president’s political career.” The Harris campaign has not yet responded to inquiries regarding their decision.

This rejection led several delegates to initiate a sit-in outside the United Center starting at around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday and continuing until approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday, when they concluded and presented their new demand. While the delegates intended to return to the convention hall before Harris’ address, they had no plans to disrupt the event, according to their organizers.

The organizers viewed the outcome as not a total loss for their movement, noting successes such as an official panel discussion earlier in the week that addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where countless lives have been lost. After hearing of their speaker being denied, other groups expressed solidarity.

The organization Muslim Women for Harris-Walz announced its disbandment, stating they could not “continue in good conscience” without addressing their demand. The influential United Auto Workers union, which supports Harris, labeled the decision not to allow a Palestinian speaker as a mistake, along with various other political figures.

“To secure victory in this election, the Democratic Party must permit a Palestinian American voice to be featured prominently at the DNC tonight,” asserted the UAW in a statement.

Currently, it’s uncertain how this situation will influence public opinion for Harris, whose polling numbers against Trump are significantly better than Biden’s. Her support from other voter demographics, including Black and younger voters, may counteract any hesitance in Arab-American and Muslim communities. Harris has previously engaged with the movement’s founders, including a brief meeting with Elabed and Abbas Alawieh from Dearborn before a recent rally in Detroit, and sent campaign representatives to the metro Detroit area.

Discussions are happening with community leaders, including Jewish leaders.

During a previous meeting, Elabed mentioned that Harris indicated further discussions would take place. However, a policy advisor for the vice president later stated that imposing an arms embargo on Israel was not an option.

Elabed, sister to U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit and the only Palestinian-American woman in Congress, emphasized that the effort to highlight Palestinian rights is persistent. She described this week as merely a preview of the upcoming plans for the next four years and beyond, asserting that “We’re not going anywhere.”

Tlaib was one of the individuals who reached out to the movement’s organizers on Thursday, voicing her support. Other speakers at a press conference earlier in the day and again that evening remarked that Harris was not aligned with the views of the Democratic Party’s base, asserting that many members are calling for a cease-fire.

Jim Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute in Washington, noted that every key speaker who referred to Gaza this week received applause, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders from Vermont.

“It was an avoidable mistake,” he said, criticizing the decision not to invite a Palestinian speaker. “It was foolish.”

Abbas Alawieh from Dearborn, one of the movement’s founders alongside Elabed, who participated in a sit-in outside the United Center on Wednesday night, expressed pride for his fellow activists and the numerous Harris delegates who signed a letter advocating for a cease-fire.

“Our movement has widespread support,” he stated. “Our movement is succeeding.”

Reach Todd Spangler at tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @tsspangler.