‘There’s nothing to celebrate’: Unrest in Gaza Persists Amid DNC Protests
Chicago, Illinois – Echoes of the Year 1968
With the sign “Just like 1968, there’s nothing to celebrate,” Palestinian rights protesters draw similarities between the present Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, and the convention held here 56 years ago when there was a violent suppression of anti-Vietnam War demonstrators.
DNC, Uninterrupted Protests and the Gaza Issue
The Democratic National Convention has currently taken over the city of Chicago, welcoming thousands of its delegates and supporters. They gathered to commemorate the official nomination of Kamala Harris to be the party’s Presidential candidate. Nonetheless, just like the 1968 defeat of Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey to Richard Nixon, these protesters give a clear warning message to Harris. They assert that they won’t be offering their support to her unless the United States discontinues its absolute support for Israel. This marked the third day of the convention and the third day of protests over Gaza.
Chants of “DNC your hands are red, over 40,000 dead,” resonated through the streets as the protesters, armed with Palestinian flags, stretched over the streets of Chicago.
Escalating Tensions on the Ground
In an attempt to keep protesters along the specified route, law enforcement officials resorted to moving chains of bicycles on the side of the road. As the protest neared the convention center, a string of police officers put up roadblocks leading to the security perimeter. One of the vocal leaders of the protest, Jinan Chehade, voiced that Wednesday’s protest was the largest so far of the 2024 convention. She described the turnout as a reflection of a forceful call for justice.
Even though frustration is soaring over the war on Gaza, where the death toll of Palestinians has exceeded 40,000 in the last ten months, protesters have managed to keep the demonstrations peaceful. However, a troubling scene unfolded as two hijab-wearing young women were arrested at a transit station amidst the protest.
Arrests Amidst Protests
Witnesses watched the sudden arrest at an elevated train platform. Despite law enforcement’s exhaustive reminders that photography was forbidden at the station, journalists and protesters, alike, continued to take images. Two women wearing the hijab were earmarked, leading to a brief interaction before they were wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. A crowd assembled, chanting “Let them go” as the police escorted the two women out of the station. Police did not respond to inquiries about why these two Muslim women were singled out from the crowd.
Protests Ratcheting Up, DNC Nearing its End
As the convention schedule wraps up with Harris accepting the Democratic nomination, more protests are expected tomorrow. Chicago represents one of the largest Palestinian communities in the US, triggering a strong response to the situation in Gaza. Social justice activist Lizette Garza explains that people of various backgrounds in Chicago are “grieving” for the atrocities in Gaza along with Palestinians. Garza insists that it’s vital for Chicago, as a liberal city, to be antiwar when communities are suffering so significantly.
