Thousands of people who marched against the war in Gaza outside the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday delivered the week’s most peaceful demonstration so far, even though they held their parade without a permit from City Hall.
The event followed Tuesday’s clash in the West Loop between protesters and Chicago police that led to 59 arrests.
But the group involved in Tuesday’s violence was not affiliated with the coalition that planned Wednesday’s event that began at Union Park. And the organizers of the latest demonstration were familiar with Chicago police.
Several hundred protesters have gathered in Union Park on the third day of the DNC. Crowd is getting fired up during chants like “DNC don’t you lie, because of you our people died” and “DNC you will see, Palestine will be free.” @Suntimes pic.twitter.com/0qynTMK2EV
— Mary Norkol (@mary_norkol) August 21, 2024
The group has held dozens of protests against the war in Gaza since October. It is a local coalition of Palestinian, Arab and Muslim organizations.
Four young men wearing black and white keffiyeh scarves actually approached a Chicago police commander at the edge of Union Park on Wednesday to discuss how and why they set up a perimeter and why they were there.
“We approached him, and he was friendly,” said one of the young men, who would not give their names. “We just want a peaceful protest, and we know they have jobs to do.”
Keffiyehs and Palestinian flags — perhaps the most of any demonstration this week — flowed in the wind. Drums thundered and spirited chants ripped through the crowd.
The Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine has begun its march toward the DNC at the United Center.
The crowd is chanting “end the siege on Gaza now” and “no peace on stolen land.”
There was no resistance from Chicago police. CPD Supt. Larry Snelling is out front again. pic.twitter.com/MxBfTvGXtK
— Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) August 21, 2024
“DNC, your hands are red,” they chanted. Also: “End the siege on Gaza now.”
The protest was meant to be “family-friendly,” and several children and strollers could be seen throughout the crowd. Kids were holding miniature Palestinian flags and clapped along with the chants.
A 26-year-old Palestinian American protester painted a mask with the Palestinian flag to catch people’s attention.
Yanet Zapata, 39, was born in Chicago, but her family is indigenous to Mexico. She said she was marching in support of Palestinian rights because “all our struggles are connected.”
“I have respect for the lands and the people,” Zapata said. “So when I see people in dire need of help, I can’t help it but to be out here in support.”
Riverside resident Sara Vacek thought it was important to draw a connection between the push for reproductive rights in the Democratic Party and the atrocities faced by pregnant people in Gaza.
“Women in Gaza, they have no prenatal care, no postnatal care,” Vacek said. “It’s not acceptable for Vice President [Kamala] Harris to be preaching about reproductive rights and abandoning women’s rights in Gaza.”
A police helicopter buzzed over the rally, and police stood nearby but kept their distance. CPD Supt. Larry Snelling appeared on the front lines, as he has since demonstrations began Sunday night.
Wednesday’s demonstrators followed the same route as a similar march Monday, which featured roughly the same number of protesters. They initially traveled west on Washington Boulevard.
However, hundreds of police officers prevented Wednesday’s rally-goers from using Park 578, where people on Monday breached an outer security perimeter around the United Center.
At a news conference Wednesday, Snelling was asked about allowing marches to go forward without a permit. Snelling said police officials would assess unpermitted events “as they happen.”
“People have the right to assemble,” he said. “However, we are going to control the situations. When we get there, we’ll make an assessment of what’s happening, and if we know we need to take action, we’ll take action.”
Contributing: David Struett