DNC widened the split between liberals and progressives over whether to back Harris

Last week, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) seemed to have ignited two contrasting reactions on social media – each from a different generation. 

Many users - particularly millennials or older Americans - are excited about presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris's potential to be the first woman and South Asian to become president of the US.

For example, a clip of actress Sigourney Weaver getting emotional about inspiring Harris has received attraction both online and in media publications. 

“To think for one moment that my work would have anything to do with her rise makes me very happy, actually, because it’s true,” she said. “I have so many women who come and thank me,” Weaver said.

Many users joked about how surprisingly patriotic the DNC made them feel. 

all of us a month ago: “fuck this fascist capitalism-worshipping shithole of a country straight to hell”

all of us today: pic.twitter.com/3mC4IdGQsT

— Tyler Ruggeri (@t_ruggeri) August 7, 2024

The other reaction to the DNC - mainly coming from Gen-Z Americans of colour - is in stark contrast to the excitement. It has made those who were wary of Harris - specifically for her take on Israel's war on Gaza - stray even further away. 

Harris made some of her first firm political stances, which took many by surprise, during her speech on the last day of the DNC.

Rather than appealing to the demands of the left – like universal healthcare, cancelling student debt, and abortion rights – Harris focused on issues that appeal to conservative Americans, like tightening border security, increasing police funding and having the "strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world". 

The Democratic Party, has shifted so far to the right this seemed like more of a Republican Convention. Having Republicans speak on stage, ignoring protestors, bragging about policing and military interventions. Zero policy about living wages, health care, or student debt relief.

— AshleyStevens (@The_Acumen) August 23, 2024

This sparked a trend on X where users posted things about what they would rather have than a strong military. 

"I don't want the most lethal fighting force in the world," one user posted. "I want to go to the doctor."

I don’t want the most lethal fighting force in the world, I want functional and free public transportation https://t.co/HrBHtuJmcu

— Becca Lewis (@beccalew) August 24, 2024

I don't want the most lethal fighting force in the world, I want to get my mom cataract surgery

— delaney (@delaney_nolan) August 23, 2024

I don’t want the most lethal fighting force in the world, I want all my peeps to be able to attend university & study their passions for free. https://t.co/GY3Gikt6JF

— Saul Williams (@SaulWilliams) August 23, 2024

Eman Abdelhadi, a Palestinian-American academic from Chicago, posted, "I want my taxes to stop killing my people." 

I don't want the most lethal fighting force in the world, I want my taxes to stop killing my people. https://t.co/b1yuWhxDAd

— Eman Abdelhadi (@emanabdelhadi) August 23, 2024

For pro-Palestinian and Arab social media users, the content post-DNC is similar to what was being published before the event.

However, after seeing both the DNC’s refusal to allow pro-Palestinian delegates to advocate their demands on the main stage, and the videos of delegates covering their ears as pro-Palestinian protestors read the names of dead children from Gaza, the pro-Palestine movement may have been pushed even further away than they were before the DNC.

Even creators who were at the convention, like TikTokker Nimay Ndolo, voiced their critiques of the DNC's treatment of pro-Palestinian delegates.

But things have changed in spaces that were previously debating the potential consequences of the pro-Palestine movement deterring voters away from Harris.

After Harris' speech at the DNC, the circulation of content from creators who were advocating for "settling" for Harris has declined, while those who are either boycotting the election or voting for a third party have begun to gain more traction.

"It's crazy to me that influencers were coming on this app saying people were not morally superior for not voting for Kamala Harris," creator Khalil said in a TikTok post after Harris' speech, receiving almost thirty thousand likes. "All of a sudden, all of them are quiet. No one wants to talk about politics anymore." 

"Not a Congolese person in sight. Not a Sudanese person in sight. Not a Palestinian in sight."

After many took to the comment section to explain that they are voting for Harris because she is "the lesser of two evils", Khalil - who previously announced he would be voting for Green Party candidate Jill Stein - responded with another TikTok video where he said, "Believe it or not, there is a lesser of lesser two evils. There are other options." 

Another creator on TikTok, Jay, made a video acknowledging those who previously argued that Harris was flexible in her opinions, especially when compared to Trump. 

"I'm watching all the people who said, 'Oh, but we can pull Kamala 'further' left' - I'm watching y'all get pulled right instead," he said. 

"Y'all are telling us not to critique her like she's not a politician. And y'all are using the 'Black woman' card, but that's not the only hat she wears. It's getting real scary, and y'all are fighting leftists for what? Because we want a world that we can be proud of?

"People are trying to save America from itself." 

Others pointed to their frustrations with Harris and the Democratic Party's repeated use of "ceasefire" talks. 

"You don't need 'talks' about a ceasefire, you don't need 'talks' about reparations: you just need to do it," content creator Erick Hard said in a TikTok clip of a Hoodrat to Headwrap podcast episode that got more than 65,000 likes. 

"The fact that they keep feeding us that crap is insulting. What do you mean you're sitting around talking about a ceasefire deal while the campaign trail is going? Nah sis. When is this going to end?" 
 

Although more creators have become emboldened to publicly denounce Harris after the negative reactions to the DNC, many online are still advocating for younger voters to vote for Harris in fear of another Donald Trump term. 

"It absolutely disgusts me that with my vote this election I probably will not be able to stop the funding of Israel's violence against the Palestinian people," content creator Keara Sullivan said in a TikTok video that received more than 12o,000 likes. 

"I absolutely hate it, but I am going to vote because I recognize that by boycotting the election I would be helping Donald Trump. And by helping Donald Trump, I would be leaving a lot of marginalized groups out to dry."

More users online are echoing this sentiment, accusing those who are not voting for Harris of thinking they are "morally superior" to those who are.

Other users on TikTok, like Ryan Ken, have been open about their inability to vote for Harris purely based on her actions regarding the war in Gaza. 

"You can claim that it's 'moral superiority'. You're not going to debate me out of caring," Ken said. 

"I am under no delusion that my emotions shape my decisions, even my political ones. I am aware I am making an emotional decision. You're not going to debate me out of caring for people."