Governor JB Pritzker dismisses concerns of 1968-style violence at 2024 Democratic National Convention

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: As Illinois prepares to host the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Governor JB Pritzker is confident that the fiasco of the 1968 DNC will not be repeated, despite the anticipated large-scale protests.

Addressing concerns about potential unrest, Pritzker insisted that the current political and social landscape is vastly different from that of 56 years ago.

JB Pritzker assures 2024 DNC will differ from 1968 convention chaos

Governor JB Pritzker downplayed fears of the convention descending into chaos during an interview on CNN's 'State of the Union.'

"The fact is, it’s a whole different ballgame," Pritzker began. "Here we are 56 years later, we’ve got a very, very different situation in the Democratic Party."

In 1968, the Democratic Party was deeply fractured over the Vietnam War, leading to widespread dissent and violent protests. The nomination process was contentious, as incumbent President Lyndon B Johnson had withdrawn from the race, leaving the party in disarray.

The convention was marked by intense debates over delegate seating, the language of the party platform, and escalating anti-war protests, which ultimately devolved into riots. These riots resulted in the death of one civilian, injuries to over 500 protesters, and 152 police officers wounded.

Pritzker underscored the advancements in law enforcement and technology that have transformed how protests are managed. He explained that the authorities are well-prepared to handle any potential unrest, thanks to the lessons learned from past events.

“The Democratic Party, honestly, has coalesced around this candidate. That was not the case in 1968. Policing is all different now, and we’ve got technology at work,” he said. “The protesters are protesting something that is very far away from here — very important — but it’s not about people getting drafted from here, going abroad.”

Legacy of Chicago conventions and a commitment to safety

Chicago has a long history of hosting political conventions, with at least 10 Democratic and 14 Republican conventions held in the city since the 1860s. However, the 1968 convention remains one of the most infamous due to the violent clashes between protesters and police.

The parallels between that event and the current convention are apparent, as both are taking place in the same city, with an incumbent president passing the baton amid glaring internal party divisions.

This year, the divisions within the Democratic Party center around foreign policy, particularly regarding the Israel-Hamas war. Many voters in the primary process have voiced their dissatisfaction with President Biden’s support for Israel by marking themselves as "uncommitted."

This has fueled concerns that the convention could see a resurgence of the kind of unrest that defined 1968, the New York Post reported.

Despite these concerns, Pritzker remains confident that the situation will be handled peacefully. He cited the 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago as an example of a well-managed event and reiterated that the authorities are committed to ensuring the safety of both protesters and convention attendees.

"If they’re troublemakers, they’re going to get arrested and they’re going to get convicted. But the fact is that the vast majority of people who are protesting — and we’ve seen this before — are peaceful protesters, they want to have their voices heard," Pritzker said. "They’re going to be heard, no doubt about it. And we’re going to protect that."

Reflecting on Joe Biden and the future of the party

Governor JB Pritzker also weighed in on the state of the Democratic Party and its future under Vice President Kamala Harris. Reflecting on President Joe Biden’s tenure, Pritzker acknowledged the challenges the party faces, particularly the risk of former President Donald Trump returning to power.

After Biden’s debate performance against Trump in late June, which led to widespread dissatisfaction within the party, Pritzker was overheard in a hot mic moment expressing concern, saying, “I don’t like where we are.”

Nevertheless, Pritzker stopped short of publicly calling for Biden to step aside. Instead, he expressed deep respect for Biden’s long career in public service.

“There is an enormous amount of reverence for Joe Biden. For 50 years, he has fought for the American people and for working families,” he said. “Everybody was looking at the polls … there is a danger on the horizon here, and that is that Donald Trump might become president again.”

However, Pritzker also acknowledged the need for a candidate who can energize the electorate, noting, "They need to know that who they’re voting for is somebody that they can be excited and electrified by, and I think they weren’t feeling that about Joe Biden." 

As the convention approaches, Pritzker is facing political attacks, including a $700,000 ad campaign accusing him of failing to deliver on promises to improve the lives of Black residents in Illinois.

The ad, sponsored by the National Black Empowerment Fund, criticizes Pritzker for his record on job creation in the legal cannabis and green energy sectors, as well as for not addressing funding disparities in public schools. “Gov JB Pritzker thinks the convention is one big party. For Illinois’ black community, his record is nothing to celebrate,” the ad declares.

Despite these challenges, Pritzker remains optimistic about the party’s prospects under Vice President Harris, whom he praised for energizing the Democratic base.

“This is a candidate who’s energized the party in a way that I haven’t seen certainly since ’08,” he said of Harris. “I’ve not felt this kind of energy and electricity at any convention other than the one for Barack Obama."