Tensions are expected to escalate outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago next week as thousands of protesters, organized by pro-Palestinian groups, prepare to demonstrate against U.S. support for Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The protests are set to spotlight the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict and the increasing civilian death toll in the region.
The largest of the planned demonstrations, dubbed the “March on the DNC,” is scheduled to begin at noon on August 19th and will continue through the evening of August 22nd at Union Park, just a short distance from the DNC venue. Organizers are calling for a significant turnout, with estimates suggesting that as many as 100,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators could participate in the protests.
The coalition behind the protests consists of over 150 organizations from across the country, all unified under a common goal: to pressure Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party to advocate for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and to end U.S. military aid to Israel. While the coalition includes groups with diverse interests, their collective focus for these demonstrations is the Israeli-Palestinian war.
Three major protests are being planned to coincide with the key moments of the DNC: on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday—the first and last days of the convention. Organizers are preparing for a massive showing of support, hoping to leverage the visibility of the DNC to draw attention to their cause and influence the party’s platform and policies.
The upcoming protests are expected to add to the already high level of security around the DNC, as both local law enforcement and federal agencies prepare for large crowds and the potential for heightened tensions. The demonstrations are likely to further intensify the debate within the Democratic Party over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly in regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
