Biden, infamously dubbed "Genocide Joe" by the Palestine solidarity movement, is finding no respite from relentless protests wherever he goes. The movement, determined to hold the President accountable for his perceived support for the Israeli war in Gaza, disrupts his events and speeches. Even at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina, historically significant in the struggle for Black liberation, protesters shouted "ceasefire now!" Biden's campaign events in Virginia and his endorsement ceremony by a major union faced similar interruptions, with union workers condemning his support for the alleged genocide in Gaza.
The Palestine solidarity movement criticizes Biden's administration for actively funding the assault on Palestinians in Gaza. Despite the International Court of Justice acknowledging South Africa's claims of Israeli genocide, the State Department cut funding to UNRWA, Gaza's main UN relief agency. Biden, bypassing Congress, continues to supply weapons to Israel, with US-made bombs causing immense civilian casualties, including over 26,000 Palestinians killed, 10,000 of them children.
The President refuses to call for a ceasefire, dismissing congressional efforts as "repugnant." This stance persists despite global outrage fueled by documented atrocities in Gaza, such as the deliberate targeting of hospitals and the obliteration of entire families.
Protesters remain undeterred, disrupting Biden's public appearances, raising questions about the appropriateness of such protests, especially at historically significant locations. The disruption at the Mother Emanuel AME Church sparked controversy, with critics debating the ethics of protesting at a site where a white supremacist killed nine Black churchgoers in 2015.
The unrest extends to labor unions, traditionally supportive of Democratic candidates. At the UAW CAP Conference, workers protested Biden's endorsement, demanding a ceasefire in Palestine. Over 500 UAW workers signed a petition urging the union to endorse only those supporting a ceasefire. The movement within the UAW sees an opportunity to leverage labor power against the perceived support for the Palestinian genocide, highlighting the multifaceted opposition faced by Biden due to his foreign policy stance.