During a rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Vice President Kamala Harris faced a heated interruption from an anti-Israel protester who shouted, “No more Gaza war!” as she spoke about the stakes of the upcoming election. The incident occurred right after former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a pointed speech criticizing Trump and some of his allies. Harris momentarily paused when the heckler disrupted her remarks, as the audience responded by booing and chanting her name to drown out the protester. After regaining composure, Harris replied, “On the topic of Gaza, we must end that war.”
The rally took place in a state with one of the largest Arab-American populations in the country, where the Israel-Hamas conflict has stirred political tensions. Outside the event, several anti-Israel demonstrators protested against the vice president. The vice president’s supporters expressed concerns about the political impact of the ongoing conflict in Michigan, a key swing state. Recent polling shows Trump holding a narrow lead in the state, highlighting the tight nature of the race.
Kamala Harris has faced hecklers at other events recently, including a rally in Houston that featured Beyoncé. During that rally, she addressed her critics by emphasizing that their campaign is about “fighting for democracy.” Her efforts to gain support in crucial states have included appearances with high-profile celebrities and political figures like Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama.
The Michigan rally also saw Michelle Obama taking a more aggressive tone in her speech compared to her 2016 campaign slogan. Obama expressed frustration over perceived double standards in the political landscape, urging voters to “take our lives seriously” and rally behind women on issues such as abortion rights.
