Jill Stein Points Fingers at Key Figures Over Anti-Fascism Efforts

Jill Stein, former Green Party presidential candidate, launches a scathing attack on the Democratic Party and Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing them of failing to combat fascism and ignoring critical issues facing Americans.

At a Glance

Jill Stein criticizes Democrats for not addressing key issues and relying on fear-based campaigning
Stein calls for Democrats to “Abandon Harris” and accuses the party of causing fascism
The Green Party candidate advocates for a pro-worker, anti-war, and climate-focused campaign
Stein’s campaign has achieved ballot access in 22 states despite alleged opposition from Democrats

Stein’s Critique of the Democratic Party and Harris

As the Democratic National Convention unfolds in Chicago, former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein has launched a blistering critique of the Democratic Party and its presumptive nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. Stein argues that the party’s failure to address critical issues and its reliance on fear-based campaigning against Donald Trump are contributing to the rise of fascism in the United States.

Stein’s comments come as Harris is expected to secure the Democratic nomination following President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection. The Green Party candidate expressed concern about the lack of scrutiny Harris has faced, referring to this period as the “honeymoon” stage of her candidacy.

“We haven’t seen Kamala Harris undergo challenging interviews or debates,” Stein said. “We haven’t really seen policy differences either. Once again, you have a Democratic candidate largely running on fear campaigning against Donald Trump. And yes indeed, Donald Trump is a disaster, but unfortunately, the Democrats have not stood up to really fight for working people. And at the end of the day, in spite of the party atmosphere of the moment, money, big money is pouring in like never before.” Source

The “Abandon Harris” Movement

Stein’s criticism aligns with a growing sentiment among some progressive activists, as evidenced by the evolution of the “Abandon Biden” movement into “Abandon Harris.” This shift was highlighted during a press conference outside the DNC, where Hassan Abdel Salam, founder of Abandon Biden, declared, “Today, we launch Abandon Harris, Abandon Harris. In the protests on the streets of Chicago, reminiscent of 1968, we now declare that the only option for people of conscience is to abandon Harris, to punish her and the party so that they know that they can never put genocide on the ballot.”

“If you vote for genocide, you are consenting to it and you are enabling it. Don’t let them talk you out of your humanity,” Stein said in an X post alongside a video. Source

Stein’s Campaign and Democratic Opposition

Despite facing what she claims is opposition from the Democratic Party, Stein’s campaign has achieved ballot access in 22 states and is working to expand its reach. She argues that the Democrats’ efforts to keep her off the ballot stem from fear of losing votes to her campaign.

“It’s clear they are running scared right now, very frightened of the potential for a pro-worker, anti-war, anti-genocide, climate emergency campaign to actually be on the ballot,” Stein said. “Let’s let the American voters decide.” Source

Stein’s campaign focuses on issues she believes are being ignored by both major parties, including workers’ rights, anti-war policies, and climate change. She emphasizes the need for a real debate on these critical issues, suggesting that voter abstention may increase in the upcoming election due to a lack of substantive discussion.

Implications for the 2024 Election

As the 2024 presidential race takes shape, Stein’s criticism of the Democratic Party and Kamala Harris highlights the challenges facing the party in unifying its base and addressing concerns from progressive voters. While some Democratic officials dismiss the threat of third-party candidates, others acknowledge the potential impact on the election outcome.

“What I can say is that there are ways for my vote to have an impact, and one of them is for me to vote for Jill Stein instead of being pressured by the apparatus of the Democratic Party that I have to vote for her or I’m voting for fascism,” Sarah Bechdel, a 35-year-old Chicago resident, told our team. Source

As the election approaches, it remains to be seen how the Democratic Party will address the concerns raised by Stein and other progressive voices, and whether their criticism will impact Harris’s campaign strategy and messaging in the months ahead.