Parties and grief: A stark contrast at the Democratic National Convention

As jubilant Democrats celebrated Kamala Harris, advocates bereaved by atrocities in Gaza tried to make themselves heard.

Chicago, Illinois – As balloons dropped from the ceiling of a packed United Center in Chicago, row upon row of Democratic Party faithful rose to their feet, clapping and shouting out with joy.

It was Thursday night, and Kamala Harris had just delivered the closing speech of this year’s Democratic National Convention.

The atmosphere was ecstatic: The Democrats in the audience were fired up, and many credited Harris with reinvigorating the party in the weeks after President Joe Biden ended his faltering re-election bid.

But while jubilant faces stretched out as far as the eye could see — and red, white and blue balloons spilled out into the halls — the mood took a markedly different turn outside of the arena.

There, a small group of people wearing Palestinian keffiyehs stood almost motionless, looking exhausted and bereaved.