Anti-Israel protesters gathered in downtown Chicago on Sunday, marking the first major demonstration of the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
The protests erupted on the eve of the convention, which is set to officially nominate Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as the Democratic candidates for the 2024 presidential election.
The protesters, angry over the Biden-Harris administration‘s support for Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, flooded the streets and disrupted a delegate party at Navy Pier.
One protester managed to grab a microphone on stage, accusing Democrats of “funding a genocide” before being removed by security.
Chants of “DNC go home” and “Bring the war home” filled the air as demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and rallied against the U.S. government’s continued military support for Israel.
The protests are expected to continue throughout the week, with organizers calling it a “week of justice.”
The demonstrations come as the Democratic Party gathers in Chicago to celebrate their ticket’s nomination.
The DNC has planned a week of events at the United Center, with each night focusing on a different theme, highlighting what they describe as the “successes of the Biden-Harris administration” and laying out a vision for the future under a Harris-Walz leadership.
However, the anger outside the convention center reflects deep divisions within the party, particularly regarding the administration’s handling of foreign policy.
Protesters, part of a larger coalition known as the Coalition to March on the DNC, have vowed to continue their demonstrations.
The protests also bring to mind memories of the chaotic 1968 DNC in Chicago, where violent clashes between protesters and police became a defining moment in American political history.
While party officials hope to avoid a repeat of that chaos, the intensity of the protests has already drawn comparisons.
Chicago officials are currently in a standoff with protest organizers over the route of the planned marches, with activists pushing for a longer route to accommodate the expected turnout. A federal judge is set to rule on the dispute.