CHICAGO – People gathered for a rally near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Sunday afternoon, far from the only demonstration expected in Chicago this week.
Trucks lined the streets of Chicago Sunday ahead of what will be a busy week as thousands arrive for the Democratic National Convention, which starts Monday.
Sunday, however, marked the first of numerous publicly announced demonstrations. WGN News found one demonstration organized by “Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws,” a coalition comprised of various feminist and pro-Palestinian groups; the latter issue will also be front and center come Monday.
Hatem Abudayyeh serves as a spokesperson for the coalition to March on the DNC, and there’s been an ongoing battle with the city over their planned protest.
“Almost 270 organization from across the U.S. have joined the coalition to March on the DNC,” Abudayyeh said. “Tens of thousands [of people] will be out on the streets starting tomorrow, August 19 at noon, right here at Union Park to say, ‘Stop the genocide now, end U.S. aid to Israel and free Palestine.'”
Demonstrators from the coalition to March on the DNC are set to converge on Union Park at noon and hold a program with speakers. They are then expected to march for just over a mile, with a stop at Park 578, before returning to Union Park.
However, the coalition has been fighting for a longer route – one of about 2.4 miles – and said they’ll continue fighting for it until the last minute.
“Up until 2 p.m. when we step off, we’re going to be fighting for our rights and we’re going to be fighting for that route,” Abudayyeh said.
Sunday’s march will head southbound down Michigan Avenue from Wacker to 9th Street before heading east into Grant Park.
Monday’s protest will begin at noon in Union Park.
There was also an issue over a stage and sound system at Park 578, which is within sight and sound of the United Center. That has now been allowed, but organizers still want a longer path for their protest.