Tens of thousands of protesters are gearing up to demonstrate outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, targeting the Biden-Harris administration’s support for Israel. Their plans include two significant marches: one on Monday at noon before President Biden’s evening address and another on Thursday at 5 p.m. ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech.
Organized mainly by left-wing and Arab- and Muslim-American groups, the demonstrations aim to challenge the Democratic Party’s stance on Israel. Hatem Abudayyeh of the Arab American Action Network criticized Harris, calling her equally culpable as Biden for her stance on an arms embargo against Israel. He expressed that if Harris loses to former President Donald Trump, it will be a result of their own making, likening the situation to the Vietnam War era.
As DNC approaches, Chicago braces for large-scale protests against Biden and Harris’s policies on Israel, with counter-protests also planned
Protesters will gather at Chicago’s Union Park, located about a 10-minute walk from the United Center, the convention site. Initially, high turnout was anticipated when Biden was the nominee, but his retirement and endorsement of Harris has introduced some uncertainty about protest size. Despite this, organizers expect substantial participation.
Past demonstrations against Biden have seen strong reactions, with protesters branding him “Genocide Joe” and staging intense rallies. Harris has faced interruptions at recent events, such as a protest in Detroit, where activists accused her of supporting genocide. Her response, which some found dismissive, has drawn mixed reactions online.
The protest coalition faces logistical issues with permit approvals for sound systems and sanitation facilities but has been granted permission to march near the convention venue. Businesses in downtown Chicago are preparing for potential disruptions, while pro-Israel groups have also secured permits for counter-rallies.
Historically, political conventions have seen varied success with protest efforts. Previous attempts to recreate impactful protests have sometimes fizzled, as seen in Denver in 2008 and Philadelphia in 2016. However, if current protests mirror the intense anti-Israel demonstrations of earlier this year, Chicago police will be prepared to manage any disruptions.
