The first disruptions and protests have already begun at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which officially begins today and continues until Thursday.
On Sunday afternoon, a protestor stormed the stage at the DNC welcome party for delegates, grabbed the microphone and began shouting about Israel’s war in Gaza.
“150,000 people are dead. You are funding a genocide,” the mask-wearing woman shouted, before being manhandled off the stage.
It appears that Telegram was used to coordinate protests at the AON Grand Ballroom, Navy Pier, where the welcome party was held. Pictures showed protesters outside the Ballroom, bearing pro-Palestine banners, but some were able to make their way inside the building, beyond the police cordon.
There are expected to be major disturbances at this week’s DNC. Tens of thousands of pro-Palestine activists are predicted to arrive, and commentators are drawing parallels with the infamous DNC of 1968, which saw large-scale clashes between police and protestors angered over the death of Martin Luther King, the war in Vietnam and the country’s economic situation.
Axios reported on Thursday that “Democrat lawmakers are fearful about their safety,” as the scale of the potential protests against government policy towards Israel
House Democrats have been warned to avoid booking hotel rooms in their own name, not to visit certain areas of the city, and not to engage if they are directly confronted by protesters.
The site of the Convention has been surrounded by multiple layers of security fencing, and the city has brought in new courtroom procedures to allow faster processing of arrestees in the event of mass arrests.
Protests kicked off on Sunday with a march along Michigan Avenue against the war in Gaza and in support of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Anti-abortion activists staged a counter-demonstration, but there were no reports of clashes.
