U.S Senate candidate Lawrence ‘Larry’ Hamm, a progressive civil rights activist, declared his intention to cast an “uncommitted” vote for president in the June 4 New Jersey Democratic primary election, challenging President Joe Biden’s approach to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Expressing deep concern over what he called “Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza,” Hamm emphasized the need for immediate action from President Joe Biden’s administration.
“I am going to vote ‘uncommitted’ for president in the June 4th New Jersey Democratic Primary Election to protest the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, and I am going to urge New Jersey voters to do the same,” Hamm said. “I believe voting ‘uncommitted’ for president in the primary is the best way to send the strongest possible message to President Biden that his administration must do everything necessary to bring Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza to an immediate end.”
“More than 530,000 people have voted ‘Uncommitted’ or ‘Uninstructed’ or ‘No Preference’ or ‘Leave It Blank’ or ‘Ceasefire’ in Democratic primaries of other states. I believe the ballots cast by those voters together with the millions of people who have protested against Israel’s genocidal war have pushed the Biden administration to talk about ceasefire in Gaza,” said Hamm.
“A change in the president’s rhetoric is not enough,” Hamm said. “There must be a clear change in the policy and actions of his administration on this matter. To make this change happen we must keep up the pressure on the Biden administration. Voting ‘Uncommitted’ in the primary is one way to do that.”
Hamm is also the only New Jersey Senate contender who supported Lisa McCormick over the corrupt incumbent in the 2018 New Jersey Democratic Primary Election, when Patricia Campos-Medina and Congressman Andy Kim both supported Senator Bob Menendez for renomination after his first criminal indictment resulted in a hung jury.
Campos-Medina contributed $2500 to the crooked lawmaker while Kim appeared on the ballot alongside Menendez on the county line as the incumbent’s running mate despite an offer from McCormick to join her column and the fact that Kim had no opposition in the primary.
For decades, Biden has been a close ally of Menendez, a foreign policy hawk who held power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and often battled President Barack Obama on such issues as restoring diplomacy with Cuba and how to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The White House repeatedly refused to answer questions after Menendez was charged with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act in a new indictment brought by federal prosecutors in New York. Menendez stands accused of having conspired to work on behalf of the government of Egypt without registering as a foreign agent in a superceding indictment in addition to more conventional accusations of bribery.
Hamm underscored the potential impact of the uncommitted votes, citing similar actions taken by over 530,000 voters in Democratic primaries across various states.
He believes that such collective action, combined with widespread protests against the conflict, has compelled the Biden administration to address the issue. However, Hamm contends that mere rhetoric is insufficient, urging concrete policy changes to halt the violence and suffering in Gaza.
The candidate demanded a comprehensive ceasefire, emphasizing the devastating toll of the ongoing conflict on the Palestinian population. He highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian aid and the resumption of funding to organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Additionally, Hamm called for an immediate cessation of U.S. military aid and weapons transfers to Israel.
Hamm’s decision to vote uncommitted in the primary reflects his commitment to holding the Biden administration accountable for its actions in the Israel-Gaza conflict. He views this as a crucial step in exerting pressure on the administration to adopt policies aligned with principles of justice and peace.
The announcement comes amidst a broader campaign advocating for “uncommitted” primary votes to influence the Biden administration’s approach to the crisis in Gaza. Hamm’s stance aligns with the concerns of activists who have sought to amplify their voices through electoral action to stop the slaughter of children.
While some New Jersey Democrats, including Hamm’s Senate primary opponents Patricia Campos-Medina and Rep. Andy Kim, have pledged their support for Biden’s renomination, he joins a growing chorus of voices calling for substantive policy changes to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“The message is that if Biden doesn’t turn his policy around, there is no vote in the November election,” said Isaac Jimenez, an organizer with the North New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America, which is spearheading the effort.
Delegate candidates who hope to press President Joe Biden to change US policy in the Middle East include Alexandra Dionisi from Bridgeton, Casey Stefanski from Carneys Point, Ethan Strong from Mount Ephraim, Julian R. Quinn from Atco, Saif Hasan from Cherry Hill, Sara B. Strelsin from Oaklyn, Amal Awad from Monroe, Jessica Dunlap from Mount Laurel, Brady D. Rivera from Hamilton, and Mona Dalia from Manalapan.
Also running are Tyler Bane from Leonardo, Maryam Z. Syed from Carteret, Fatima Mughal from Ewing, Fernando Gonzalez from Raritan, Aaron Bierstein from Dayton, Yeou-Shiuh Hsu from Princeton, Brooke McClarren from North Brunswick, Bryce Springfield from Princeton, Azra Baig from Princeton, Suraj Patel from Metuchen, Steven Manicatri from Edison, Muhammad Saqeeb from East Brunswick, Annecia Steiniger from Elizabeth, Anthony Steiniger from Elizabeth, Kelsey Calabrese from Lafayette, Kathleen M. Parrish from Stanhope, Maria Eva Dorigo from Montclair, Imani Oakley from Montclair, Joseph Jacob Seider from Clifton, and Eric B. Kopp from Washington.
Also advocating for justice for Palestine and a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East, aiming to influence US policy in the region are: Sasha Hammad from Maplewood, Ilektra Kostopoulou from South Orange, Jayant Raval from Bloomfield, Steven Coco from Jersey City, Beth Zak-Cohen from Newark, Jake Ephros from Jersey City, Meera Jaffrey from Jersey City, Laura Anne Keating from Hoboken, Duncan Evans from Englewood, Ethan Strong from Mount Ephraim, Julian R. Quinn from Atco, Saif Hasan from Cherry Hill, and Sara B. Strelsin from Oaklyn.
The primary results will show the administration what Democrats stand to lose in November if the White House doesn’t change its stance on Gaza and Jimenez said his group is focused on June, not the November election, which will feature a top-of-the-ticket rematch between Biden and disgraced former President Donald Trump.
As the primary election approaches, Hamm’s stance sets him apart from the broader Democratic Party political establishment, emphasizing a key distinction between the electorate and those in charge of the party machinery.
As chairman of the People’s Organization For Progress, Hamm has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to fighting for justice and a track record of advocating for progressive policies, that forge a unique perspective in the political arena.
Among Hamm’s priorities are advocating for Medicare for All, reparations for slavery, affordable housing initiatives, and implementing laws to address police brutality.
Hamm has called for urgent action on climate change, advocated gun control measures including the ban on assault weapons, and fought for stronger voting rights protections.
Hamm’s platform for economic justice champions efforts to eliminate poverty and end food insecurity by taxing the rich and big corporations while increasing the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour. He also called for an end to student debt, free college education, and the protection and expansion of social security benefits.
Hamm takes a stand on international issues, calling for ending wars and reducing military spending. He was the first Senate candidate to advocate for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank, demonstrating a commitment to peace and diplomacy on the global stage.
Hamm seeks to address systemic issues in the American political landscape, aiming to overturn Citizens United, which has led to increased corporate influence in politics. He also pushes for stronger union rights, recognizing the importance of collective bargaining in ensuring fair wages and working conditions for all.
While Hamm’s platform reflects a robust and comprehensive vision for progressive change, his candidacy also faces challenges in garnering financial support, particularly in a political climate marked by corporate control, a nation torn by harsh ideological divisions, and a race in which he is the only contender who does not have a six-figure income.
Nevertheless, his unwavering commitment to social justice and his track record as an activist lend credibility to his candidacy, offering voters a distinct choice in the upcoming primary election.
Those power brokers and party bosses were recently dealt a blow as a federal judge ordered the end of a system that allowed ballot rigging in primary elections.