Protesters outraged by U.S. support for Israel during the war in Gaza gathered in Chicago’s Union Park on Monday as the Democratic National Convention began just blocks away at the United Center. They accused the Biden administration of enabling “genocide” in the enclave by continuing to supply Israel with weapons during a devastating war that has claimed more than 100,000 lives. 40,000 Palestinians.
Protesters carried signs declaring that both Democrats and Republicans have “blood on their hands” and called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel. Some sold T-shirts with pro-Palestinian slogans for $25 and promised to donate the money to aid in Gaza.
“It is incredibly important that we at least achieve a ceasefire,” said one demonstrator Jousef Shkoukani29, to GZERO Media.
“It is incredibly important for Palestinians that people begin to realize that we are not just numbers and that we are dying in large numbers because of Israel’s indiscriminate bombings,” added Shkoukani, a Chicagoan whose father immigrated to the United States from Palestine.
Shkoukani, one of thousands who demonstrated on Monday, said he had previously knocked on doors for the president Joe Biden but now he describes himself as an independent. He said the Democratic Party had “talked but never shown action on its policies in the Middle East,” adding that the protesters were led by Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democrats are “committed to a permanent ceasefire if elected.”
Chicago has been bracing for large protests around the DNC for months as fighting continues in Gaza, especially after the divisive demonstrations on U.S. college campuses earlier this year. There is a strong, noticeable police presence in the city. And while Monday’s protests were largely peaceful, a small group of demonstrators broke through a cordon near Congress, and several were Reportedly arrested from the police.
Although the mood at the United Center was far more festive, the war was an inevitable topic here too. Democratic Congressman. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York praised Harris’ support for a ceasefire in Gaza in her speeches at the convention, drawing loud applause. But the prominent Democrats who took the convention stage mostly used their time to tout Harris’ qualifications for the presidency while denouncing former President Donald Trump as a convicted felon and a threat to democracy.
More Gaza-related protests are planned for this week, and the first signs of an encampment can be seen in Union Park – next to a sign that reads “PIG FREE ZONE.” We will be watching how the demonstrations unfold and whether they influence the tone and direction of Congress in the coming days.
