US Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that “the truth should not be suppressed” after a student told her that continued support for Israel “hurts my heart because it is an ethnic genocide.” Harris addressed students at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, on National Voter Registration Day.
“I see that during the summer there have been protests and demonstrations in astronomical numbers [about the Palestinian cause],” said one student. “Only a few days ago funds were allocated to continue supporting Israel, which hurts my heart because it is an ethnic genocide and the displacement of people, the same thing that happened in the United States, and I am sure you are aware of it.” .
In response, Harris said, “It’s about your voice, your perspective, your experience, your truth, it shouldn’t be suppressed and it should be heard, right? And one of the things we fight for in democracy, right? The question you raise about Middle East related policy, foreign policy, we still have healthy debates in our country about which is the right way to go, and nobody’s voice should be suppressed on this. “
British pro-Israeli author Douglas Murray accused the student of being “ignorant” and attacked Harris for being unable to give a better answer to that question. Interviewed by Fox News , the far-right Murray said that this debate shows that Harris “is not an asset” to the Democrats in the United States.