Gaza War Protesters Seek Recognition at Democratic Convention

CHICAGO − In the closing hours of the Democratic National Convention, a substantial group of protesters took to the streets on Thursday evening as Kamala Harris was set to officially accept the Democratic presidential nomination. The protests, which commenced four days ago, remained visible, even as the convention progressed.

Concerns that protests related to the Gaza conflict could disrupt the city and affect the convention did not materialize as expected. Instead, Chicago experienced four days of relatively modest demonstrations and marches. The only major incident involved a confrontational gathering outside the Israeli consulate on Tuesday, which resulted in a number of arrests.

Among the protesters was Belal Assaf, 60, a Palestinian-American who, along with his 19-year-old son Mohammed, marched calling for an end to the ongoing war in Gaza. He expressed frustration over the lack of broader support, stating, “Why aren’t more people speaking up for us?” Assaf emphasized the dire conditions in Gaza, saying, “It’s bad when you don’t have any hope because there’s a lack of resources.”

The crowd, which exceeded 1,000 participants, departed from Union Park and marched slowly under the elevated train tracks towards the United Center. This location was packed with tens of thousands of Democrats gathered to witness the vice president’s nomination as the party’s candidate against Donald Trump.

The atmosphere among the protesters was energetic. Chants could be heard resonating throughout the area as demonstrators waved signs, blew whistles, and drummed, while chalking messages on the streets. Police expressed increasing concern over the march extending beyond its allotted time.

Voices from the crowd echoed, “We’re young, we’re strong, we’ll rally all night long,” although it was noticeable that many protesters began to leave the march as the evening progressed.

As the night unfolded, no arrests had been reported by 8:30 PM local time. The march commenced with a rally at Union Park, where at least one entrance had to be temporarily closed due to the overwhelming number of attendees. Hatem Bazian, a professor from the University of California, Berkeley, addressed the crowd, urging them to turn their chants into action. “Don’t let anyone silence you. Speak, Speak,” he implored. “Free Palestine is a state of mind. Go out and actualize it!”

By 9:20 PM, the march redirected back to the streets outside the park, with protesters chanting “Long live Palestine.”

Among the demonstrators was Maureen Sweeney, 69, who expressed satisfaction with the protest’s turnout. She took a moment to share her thoughts with Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, who had been walking alongside the crowd throughout the event. “At my age, I feel like I can sort of be the mom and ask people to tamp things down,” Sweeney reflected. “I absolutely believe that the size of the rally absolutely impacts public perception and policy. The more people who show up, the more they will be heard.”

A resident of San Diego, Sweeney has ties to Chicago and recalled the chaos surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention, stating, “I saw them clubbing the heads of protesters in Grant Park.” She concluded her remarks by declaring, “Tonight was great. Protest is the voice of the oppressed.”

As the night advanced, the atmosphere encapsulated the urgency and determination of the protesters, underscoring their voices in calling for an end to conflict and support for humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

Source: USA TODAY