Democratic congressman says pro-Palestine protestors 'feel validated' by Harris, Democrats

Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., said on Monday that friends of his in the Gaza war protest movement "feel validated" by Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party.

"I have friends who are part of this movement in a big way, from my protest days or from the work I've done, and I've heard from them directly that they feel validated here and and I think, you know, the vice president is in a difficult position, right? She's a sitting vice president to a president," Frost said during a discussion hosted by Axios at the Democratic National Convention.

"She also, I think, has taken a little bit of a different tone on this situation, and so we'll see how things go. But I think that we're going in a really good direction and bringing people into this coalition, we're all going to disagree on different issues. It doesn't mean we're not all Democrats at the end of the day," he added.

Pro-Palestine protestors have descended on Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. On the first day, Monday, protestors marched to the United Center where the convention is being held and broke through the metal fencing in one area. On Tuesday, authorities put up more barriers.

Frost argued that Harris and the Democratic Party should try bringing pro-Palestine protestors into their "coalition" during the 2024 election cycle. He said Harris doesn't need to distance herself from the demonstrations. 

"I think Kamala Harris provides an opinion that validates everybody in this situation, all the pain that we see from everybody, the real pain and plight from Palestinians, innocent people that are dying," Frost said.

Frost said he has constituents in his district that have lost 30 to 40 family members in the war in Gaza and added that he thinks Harris understands both the Palestinian and Israel sides of the conflict.

"To the real history and plight of our Jewish brothers, sisters and siblings and what Israel represents is more than just a country or more than just a state, but represents the existence of their people that have been through so much, and having leaders who understand that in their heart and are able to empathize with that. I think it's really important in this moment," he said. "And I think Kamala Harris is that person, and I've seen it."