Young Democrats urge Biden to alter course on Gaza

Young Democrat voters are cautioning President Joe Biden that he must make changes on key issues, such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, or risk losing their support in the upcoming November elections.

“He will not win the election if he ignores the importance of Gaza right now,” Elise Joshi, the executive director of Gen-Z for Change, formerly known as TikTok for Biden, told The Hill.

In the past six months, there has been a growing level of concern regarding the president, according to Joshi.

Amid ongoing protests against Israel on college campuses across the country, the Gaza conflict has become a key issue for many young voters, with polls indicating a decline in support for Biden.

A recent Harvard poll showed that support for Biden among voters aged 18-29 has dropped from around 60% in 2020 to 45%.

In a head-to-head matchup against former President Donald Trump, the presumed GOP nominee, Biden trailed by 11 points among young voters, as per a new CNN poll.

Kidus Girma, campaign director for the Sunrise Movement, a group that advocates for climate change action, expressed that Biden is not adequately addressing the concerns of young voters.

“I don’t believe the president is engaging with young voters enough,” he told The Hill. “We are paying attention.”

Girma emphasized that it is in Biden’s best interest to align with progressive values to connect with these voters.

Regarding Gaza, he highlighted that the support of young voters will depend on Biden’s actions in the coming months.

“It is crucial for President Biden to acknowledge the voices of young people advocating for peace in Gaza,” Girma stated. “Americans are calling for the end of unconditional military aid and a lasting ceasefire. The quickest way to ease tensions on college campuses is to heed the majority of Americans and young students fighting for justice.”

Recently, Biden condemned the protests occurring at college campuses, stating that peaceful protests are allowed, but violence is not acceptable.

Joshi criticized Biden’s remarks as “shameful” and implied that Black Lives Matter played a role in his election victory in 2020.