Chicago — A large number of activists are expected to protest outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week, hoping to draw attention to issues such as economic inequality, reproductive rights and the Gaza war.
As Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to accept the Democratic nomination, the party is energized, but activists say their protest plans haven’t changed. They’re ready to amplify their progressive message in front of the nation’s top Democratic leaders.
Their issues include climate change, abortion rights and racial equality, but many activists agree that the overall message of the protest is an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, which they liken to the Vietnam War of their generation. The Chicago area is home to one of the largest Palestinian communities in the United States, and buses are bringing activists to Chicago from around the country. Organizers estimate that at least 20,000 people will participate in the march and rally on Monday, the first day of the event.
“We must do our part in the belly of the beast to stop the genocide, end American support for Israel, and stand with the Palestinians,” said Hatem Abudayeh, spokeswoman for the DNC March Coalition.
The coalition is made up of hundreds of organizations, including students. Activists say they have learned lessons from last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. They expect larger crowds and more powerful protests throughout the week.
The first demonstration on Sunday night brought together people demanding abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and an end to the Gaza war. The march lasted for hours along a police-lined route, with no signs of major conflict.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who was being considered as Harris’ running mate, said he welcomed the peaceful protests.
“A lot of people in this room believe some of that message and they’re going to carry it with them,” Pritzker told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “But the point is that the Democrats are not going to allow people to be excluded and express their First Amendment rights.”
But some still have concerns about safety, fearing the protests could become unpredictable or devolve into chaos.
Chicago, which has hosted more political conventions than any other U.S. city, has inevitably drawn comparisons to the infamous 1968 convention, when police and anti-Vietnam War protesters clashed violently on live television.
Some businesses have boarded up their windows as a precaution, and the county courthouse has said it will provide more space in case of mass arrests. Chicago police say officers have extensive training in constitutional policing and de-escalation strategies.
Coalition activists and the city have disagreed over the location of the protest and other logistics. A judge sided with the city over a march route of about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers), which organizers argued was not long enough to accommodate the expected crowds. Abudayeh said the coalition would continue to push for a much longer route when the march begins on Monday.
Also on Monday, the Philadelphia-based Poor People’s Army, which advocates for economic justice, will set up shop in Humboldt Park on Chicago’s northwest side, hosting an event and a 3-mile (5-kilometer) march featuring third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West.
In addition to the protest, the city is hosting a 45-minute time slot for speakers in a park outside the convention center. Most of the organizations that have signed up share the same progressive agenda as the coalition, but the list also includes the Israeli American Council and the conservative Illinois Policy Institute. The local firefighters union is also hoping to draw attention to its contract fight with the city.
“The First Amendment is the bedrock of our democracy,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former union organizer, told The Associated Press last week. “I will do everything in my power to protect the right to assemble for protest.”
