US Vice President Kamala Harris has come under fire for not condemning a student after she accused US policy of facilitating "ethnic genocide" of Palestinians.
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Harris' exchange with the student took place at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia on Tuesday. Harris could be seen nodding as the female student lambasted the US for its support of its allies in the Middle East.
"I see that over the summer there have been, like, protests and demonstrations in astronomical numbers," the student, who identified as half-Iranian, half-Yemeni, said on the Palestinian protests during the latest Gaza flare-up in May.
WATCH: Kamala Harris nods as student accuses Israel of "ethnic genocide": "your truth cannot be suppressed" pic.twitter.com/FcqCyT7Uo8
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"Just a few days ago there were funds allocated to continue backing Israel, which hurts my heart because it's ethnic genocide and displacement of people, the same that happened in America, and I'm sure you're aware of this," the student continued, referring to the special budget passed by the US House to support Israel's air defense system, Iron Dome, accusing this and other such measures as "inflaming Israel and backing Saudi Arabia and what-not."
Harris did not directly address her accusations but said she was "glad" that she was not afraid to come forward with her grievances. "This is about the fact that your voice, your perspective, your experience, your truth, should not be suppressed and it must be heard, right? And one of the things we're fighting for in a democracy, right?" Harris said. "Our goal should be unity, but not uniformity, right?" Harris stated. The vice president then added, "Unity should never be at the expense of telling anyone personally that, for the sake of unity, 'Oh, you be quiet about that thing. You suppress that thing. Let's not deal with that thing.' That's not unity. True unity is everyone in that room has a voice." She then touted once again that pluralism should be cherished, but once again did not take the opportunity to call out the accusations of genocide.
"The point that you are making about policy that relates to Middle East policy, foreign policy, we still have healthy debates in our country about what is the right path, and nobody's voice should be suppressed on that," she added.
Harris nodding gestures and decision to let those anti-Israel comments on genocide go unopposed led to an online backlash.
"Kamala Harris supports a student who accuses Israel of ethnic genocide – there goes Kamala doing what she does best – supporting terrorists and insulting allies," one commentator tweeted.
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