Anti-Israel protesters threaten to ruin Kamala Harris' nomination as thousands march outside Chicago DNC
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Many anti-Israel protesters are set to march outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago while protesting against the Biden-Harris administration’s support for Israel. They have also threatened to tarnish Kamala Harris’ presidential nomination fest.
Demonstrators are expected to protest every day of the convention and, even though their agendas vary, many protestors agree that an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war is the priority, the New York Post reported.
Anti-Israel protesters threaten to ruin Kamala Harris' nomination
A coalition of mostly left-wing, Arab, and Muslim-American groups have planned two protest marches, the first and largest on Monday, August 19, before retiring President Joe Biden’s evening appearance and then on Thursday, August 22, at 5 pm, before Harris’ acceptance speech.
BREAKING: Thousands of Democrat Pro-Palestine protestors and rioters have FLOODED Downtown Chicago to protest the DNC. Here it looks like they have SHUTDOWN an entire street
— George (@BehizyTweets) August 18, 2024
There are cops everywhere, but the crowd now severely outnumbers them
Things are getting crazier as more… pic.twitter.com/NFZz5rVud7
Hatem Abudayyeh, the executive director of the Arab American Action Network, said, "The Democratic Party is the target and not Joe Biden as an individual or Kamala Harris as an individual … She’s just as complicit as Biden is."
Breaking: A massive protest has formed in Chicago just one day before the DNC.
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) August 19, 2024
This protest is being organized by groups that have been banned in other countries due to ties with terrorist groups. pic.twitter.com/VQoRkl7REk
He added, "If Kamala Harris loses to former President Donald Trump, then they have nobody to blame but themselves. This is the Vietnam War of our generation."
Protesters will camp at Chicago’s Union Park, a roughly 10-minute walk from the nearby United Center that serves as the main convention venue.
🚨 SHRED NEWS ALERT: Massive Protest Disrupts DNC Party
— Shred News (@Shreddick0) August 19, 2024
• Protest Banner: Protesters are making headlines with a large banner reading “K*LLER KAMALA” outside the DNC venue. The bold statement has caught significant attention.
• Party Disruption: A protester reportedly broke… pic.twitter.com/ibPSGhVlNJ
Massive attendance had been anticipated at protests when Biden was the party’s presumptive nominee. However, his decision to retire on July 21 and endorse Harris has cast doubt over the scale of protests. Organizers say they still expect thousands of participants.
Well... the free palestine movement protest at the DNC has now turned on Kamala... and this lady said her son was in jail because of the Obamas 👀
— Audra White (@AudieZaBeast) August 18, 2024
🍿 pic.twitter.com/WKgobIXDaP
Biden has been decried as "Genocide Joe" at large during passionate protests, including the one in November 2023 when thousands of demonstrators painted the White House’s gates red while chanting, "F*** Joe Biden."
Reason for the anti-Israel protest
Several protestors agree that an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war is the priority. It is set to begin on Sunday, August 18, on the convention’s eve with an abortion rights march along iconic Michigan Avenue, according to PBS News.
DNC PROTEST- An idea of what the crowd who is protesting for abortion rights and Palestine in Chicago look like.
— Savanah Hernandez (@sav_says_) August 19, 2024
Masks as far as the eye can see | @FrontlinesTPUSA pic.twitter.com/E5CI7XXgOP
Organizer Linda Loew said that despite Democrats having pushed to safeguard reproductive rights at home, the issue is international. They will march in solidarity with people everywhere who struggle for the right to control what happens to their bodies. She said they will also protest the money the US spends to back wars that could be used for healthcare.
BREAKING: Hundreds of Chicago Police Officers are already being mobilized downtown to prepare for a big protest planned against the Democrats TONIGHT. The DNC hasn't even officially begun, and the protestors are already about to hit the streets
— George (@BehizyTweets) August 18, 2024
It's going to be a TRAINWRECK! pic.twitter.com/BIu0FBqeff
She said, "We believe that the billions of dollars that continue to flow to the state of Israel and the flow of weapons are having an inordinate and horrific impact, but in particular on women, children, and the unborn. All of these things are tied together."
Organizers say they expect a minimum of 20,000 activists, including students who protested against the war on college campuses.
Liz Rathburn, a University of Illinois Chicago student organizer, said, "The people with power are going to be there. People inside the United Center are the people who are going to be deciding our foreign policy in one way or another."