On Monday, crowds of activists began converging in Chicago for protests outside the Democratic National Convention, aiming to spotlight issues like economic inequality, reproductive rights, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Protest organizers stated that their plans remained unchanged after President Joe Biden exited the race and the party swiftly united behind Vice President Kamala Harris, who is set to formally accept the Democratic nomination this week. The activists are determined to make their progressive voices heard by the nation’s leading Democrats.
Chicago officials emphasized their commitment to ensuring the protests remain peaceful.
“The city of Chicago is really good at things like this,” Mayor Brandon Johnson assured during a news conference. “We are ready.”
As the DNC kicks off on Day 1, with 77 days remaining until Election Day, here’s what’s happening:
DNC Begins: The Democratic National Convention is in full swing in Chicago, available for streaming on various platforms, including YouTube and TikTok.
A Festive Roll Call: Delegates will re-nominate Harris, with this year’s event featuring more spectacle and less suspense.
Trump’s Campaign Struggles: The Republican nominee’s campaign continues to grapple with the reality of Harris leading the Democratic ticket.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling commended both the police and march organizers for a peaceful Sunday night demonstration, noting that it proceeded without any issues. He emphasized the readiness of officers to maintain peace throughout the week.
“Listen, it’s this simple. The Chicago Police Department is here to protect everyone in this city,” Snelling stated. “What we will not tolerate is intimidation. We will not tolerate violence.”
Protesters marched past a police line before the Democratic National Convention began on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Protesters’ concerns include climate change, abortion rights, and racial equality, among others. However, many agree that advocating for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war is the top priority. They compare it to the Vietnam War, seeing it as the defining conflict of their generation.
With one of the largest Palestinian communities in the country, the Chicago area has seen activists arriving from all over the nation by bus. Organizers anticipate that Monday’s march and rally, which coincide with the first day of the convention, could draw at least 20,000 participants.
“We have to play our part in the belly of the beast to stop the genocide, to end U.S. aid to Israel and stand with Palestine,” declared Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC.
The coalition comprises hundreds of organizations, including student groups. Activists say they’ve learned from last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and are expecting larger crowds and more vigorous demonstrations in Chicago.
Pro-Palestinian supporters from across the nation converged Monday morning on Union Park, west of the Loop business district, gearing up for a rally and march to a location near the United Center, where the convention is being held.
Taylor Cook, an organizer with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, traveled from Atlanta for the event. Cook said the group is urging all Democrats to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel, with a particular focus on Harris.
“We’re saying to Kamala, she has been complicit in this. People think it’s just Joe Biden, but she is vice president,” Cook said. “So we’re saying, you need to stop if you want our vote.”
A lone counter-protester, Shawn Campbell, 29, from Plano, Illinois, stood with an American flag while pro-Palestinian groups outlined plans for their afternoon march. Wearing a U.S. Army hat, Campbell said he intended to attend several pro-Palestinian events during the week.
The first protest on Sunday night brought together activists advocating for abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, as well as an end to the Gaza conflict. Chicago police reported two arrests on misdemeanor charges of resisting police and damaging property.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who had been considered as a potential running mate for Harris, expressed support for peaceful protests.
“There are a lot of people who are inside the hall who will believe in some of those messages and carry that with them,” Pritzker told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “But importantly, the Democratic Party doesn’t shut people out and disallow them from expressing their First Amendment rights.”
However, some still have safety concerns, fearing that the protests could turn unpredictable or chaotic.
Chicago, which has hosted more political conventions than any other U.S. city, is inevitably being compared to the notorious 1968 convention, where police and anti-Vietnam War protesters violently clashed on live television.
Some businesses have boarded up their windows as a precaution, and county courts have prepared to accommodate mass arrests if necessary. Chicago police emphasized that officers have undergone extensive training in constitutional policing and de-escalation techniques.
Coalition activists and the city have clashed over protest logistics, including the route. A judge sided with the city over a roughly 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) march route, which organizers argue is insufficient for the expected crowds. Abudayyeh mentioned that the coalition would continue to push for a longer route until the march commenced on Monday.
Additionally, the Philadelphia-based Poor People’s Army, which advocates for economic justice, plans to set up at Humboldt Park on Chicago’s northwest side. The event will feature third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West, followed by a 3-mile (5-kilometer) march.
Beyond the protests, the city is also hosting a speakers’ stage at a park near the convention center, offering 45-minute time slots. While most of the organizations signed up share the coalition’s progressive agenda, the list also includes the Israeli American Council and the conservative-leaning Illinois Policy Institute. A local firefighters’ union also hopes to draw attention to their contract dispute with the city.
“The First Amendment is fundamental to our democracy,” Johnson, a former union organizer, told the AP in an interview last week. “I’ll do everything in my power to protect the right to assemble in protest.”
