The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is set to take place in Chicago this August, and with it comes the potential for protests. In 1968, violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement during the DNC in Chicago resulted in hundreds of arrests and soured public opinion before the presidential election. Now, activists are planning to protest at this year's DNC due to President Joe Biden's support of Israel's military operations in Gaza. The city has denied permits for protests within sight and sound of the DNC and offered an alternative location four miles away, leading some groups to claim their free speech rights are being violated.
The Israel-Hamas war has sparked protests on college campuses across the nation, with students demanding their institutions divest from ties to Israel due to its response to the Hamas attacks. Over 1,200 Israeli lives and over 34,000 Palestinian lives have been claimed in the conflict.
In 1968, protests at the DNC were fueled by opposition to the Vietnam War and President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration. This year, protesters are targeting the DNC with close to 200 organizations and thousands of protesters expected. The March on DNC (protest group), led by Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the organization, is one such group planning to attend.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, who distinguishes himself from Mayor Richard J. Daley during the 1968 convention and his Police Department's handling of protests, has stressed that this is a different Chicago with a much different Police Department. The city has spent hundreds of hours training officers to handle protesters and vowed to strike a balance between keeping order and allowing free speech.
Despite the efforts, tensions remain high over the prospect of protests during the DNC due to recent college campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Security officials insist there will be a balance between allowing freedom of speech and keeping order during the convention.
