Tens of thousands new to Chicago: What you need to know about pro-Palestine protests at DNC ​​2024

It’s been a tough week in Chicago, both inside the Democratic National Convention and out on the streets. While party delegates and supporters gathered around Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, protesters descended on the Windy City to rally around one main topic: the war in Gaza.

Chief among the demands of pro-Palestinian protesters is the end of US aid to Israel. Israel’s war with Hamas has dragged on for over a year and killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza, according to the latest figures.

In Chicago, thousands of protesters gathered this week in Union Park, not far from the United Center, where the rally is taking place. March on the DNC 2024, a coalition of 220 different organizations, organized a march between the park and the convention on Monday.

Organizers estimate that the march brought together 20,000 people across the country—”a diverse base that the Democrats claim to represent”—in a peaceful rally, although there were arrests, said Faayani Aboma Mijana, a spokeswoman for the coalition. Fast company. “The march was really successful.”

Protests distract politicians on Tuesday

But the protesters are also looking for other opportunities to make their demands heard. An unauthorized march outside the Israeli consulate led to the arrest of 72 people, according to a report by The Chicago Tribune. Earlier on Tuesday, a group of protesters briefly interrupted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during a surprise appearance at the Democratic Women’s Caucus.

A few audience members also interrupted the live episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Tuesday when the talk show host interviewed former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Colbert called on Pelosi to address the protesters’ complaints, noting that her statement that “war has no role in a civilized society” seemed unconvincing to some.

Pelosi told Colbert that peace is only possible through a two-state solution. The message is consistent with the 2024 Democratic Party Platform, a 90-plus page document released ahead of the convention. The party’s platform noted that President Joe Biden, who is finishing his last months in office, “is determined to make a quick and lasting ceasefire agreement.”

More protests are planned this week

The one-time protests are likely to continue, though at least two more large marches are planned this week, both coming from Union Park. On Wednesday, the Coalition for Justice in Palestine is planning a march to the convention, followed on Thursday by another event organized by the March on DNC 2024 coalition.

Although this year’s convention is similar to the 1968 Democratic National Convention that was also held in Chicago, the conflicts this year have not been violent so far. Local law enforcement worked closely with federal agencies, including the US Secret Service, to prepare for the meeting.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling praised his officers for their response to the protesters on Monday, although the protesters briefly breached the security barrier. He criticized those protesters who tried to “cause damage” to the palace on Tuesday, saying that almost half of those arrested were from outside the city. Arrest records for this week are not yet available on the Chicago Police Department’s website.

The Chicago metropolitan area is home to the largest Palestinian American population in the US, according to the Center for Arab Narratives.

President Biden welcomed the protesters

Another good sign that the message of the pro-Palestinian protesters resonates with those attending the meeting, Mijana said, came on Monday when President Biden spoke at the meeting. “Those protestors in the street, they have a point,” Biden said. “Many innocent people are being killed on both sides.”

But protesters expressed their frustration at the lack of progress with chants including “Free, free Palestine” or “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide, we will not vote for genocide” or “No more money for Israeli crimes.” Many of these protesters are people inside the group who are trying to make a change, said Mijana, who uses their pronouns. And in this election, 10,000 votes “could make a difference,” they added. Various polls currently show the race to be close, although Harris may have a slight lead over former President Donald Trump.

“We don’t just want words, we want action,” said Mijana. “We want to see, in great writing, the end of all American aid to Israel.”