Barbara Lee on Protests Outside DNC: ‘Their Voices are Very Important’

CHICAGO — Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), a leading progressive voice in the Democratic party and an early advocate for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, expressed her support for the largely peaceful protests at the Democratic National Convention.

“This is what democracy is all about,” Lee said in an interview with KQED at the California delegation’s hotel. “The protesters must be peaceful. They continue to be here, be present, and their voices are very important.”

Lee has long been a bridge between fellow progressives and party leadership. At the 2016 Democratic convention in Philadelphia, she mediated tensions between supporters of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and helped draft the party platform. This week in Chicago, at her last convention as a member of Congress, Lee has been perched on the stage of the United Center as an official time-keeper — looking out at a sea of delegates exuberantly coalescing behind the historic candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I feel the party is in a very good place,” Lee said. “Last night during the roll call, you saw more democracy being visible, you saw more inclusion, you saw more people who reflected this country. The party has been unified.”

That unity seemed in question for much of the year, as many progressives criticized the Biden administration’s support of Israel. In her unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate, Lee distinguished herself from fellow Democrats Adam Schiff and Katie Porter with her early call for an immediate cease-fire without conditions.

Tensions over the war have simmered in the background during the party’s four-day convention in Chicago. On Tuesday, 56 people were arrested after protesters clashed with police. Other demonstrations have been overwhelmingly peaceful, and the convention has carried on without significant disruptions inside the United Center.

Anti-war advocacy has been a hallmark of Lee’s decades in public service. She cast the lone vote in Congress against the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Her political roots date back to her volunteer work on Shirley Chisholm’s groundbreaking presidential campaign. Chisholm, a Vietnam War opponent, became the first Black woman to seek a major party nomination in 1968.

Throughout her career, Lee has paid homage to Chisholm for encouraging her to register to vote and to fight for her voice to be heard in the political arena. Lee recalled that Chisholm, who passed away in 2005, often told her, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

If Chisholm were alive to witness Harris accept the Democratic Party nomination, Lee said, “Shirley would say those folding chairs are gone.

“We have our own table now, and it’s for us to set it,” Lee said. “So we can move forward and make life better for each and every person.”

Harris’ rise has special resonance for Lee. Harris was born and raised in Lee’s East Bay congressional district — and Lee was an early supporter of Harris’ 2020 presidential run. References to the East Bay and Alameda County during the convention’s program have given Lee “bragging rights.”

“Our region is one of the most enlightened, diverse, progressive and caring regions,” Lee said. “Kamala is prepared, she’s experienced, she’s ready to be our president. We all are very, very proud. And she came from home.”