gotchanewsdaily.com 
Thousands of activists are gearing up to descend on Chicago this week as the Democratic National Convention kicks off, aiming to spotlight issues like abortion rights, economic inequality, and the ongoing war in Gaza.
While Vice President Kamala Harris has been firing up crowds in anticipation of accepting the Democratic nomination, progressive activists are staying focused on their goals.
They’ve taken notes from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month and are forecasting even larger crowds and more vigorous demonstrations in Chicago, a city known for its deep roots in social activism.
Who’s Taking to the Streets?
Demonstrations are expected every day of the convention. While the agendas of these groups may differ, there’s a common demand among many activists: an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
The protests began Sunday, just as the convention was set to start, with a march down Michigan Avenue, advocating for an end to the war in Gaza and for abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. The march began in the late afternoon and continued into the evening.
Police lined the march route, and while there was no significant conflict, anti-abortion activists did stage a small counter-protest. By three hours into the march, police hadn’t reported any arrests.
Organizer Linda Loew pointed out that even though Democrats have made efforts to protect reproductive rights in the U.S., the issue is global. She emphasized that they marched in solidarity with people worldwide fighting for the right to control their bodies, and to protest the U.S. government’s spending on wars instead of healthcare.
“We believe that the billions of dollars flowing to Israel and the constant supply of weapons have a devastating impact, especially on women, children, and the unborn,” Loew said. “All of these issues are interconnected.”
The Coalition to March on the DNC, the largest group, has organized protests for the first and last days of the convention. They expect at least 20,000 activists, including students who have been protesting the war on college campuses.
“The people with power will be at the convention,” said Liz Rathburn, a student organizer at the University of Illinois Chicago. “The ones inside the United Center are the ones who will be making decisions about our foreign policy.”
Where Will They Be Protesting?
Earlier this year, activists sued the city, arguing that restrictions on where they could protest violated their constitutional rights.
Initially, Chicago officials rejected their requests for permits to demonstrate near the United Center on the city’s West Side, where the convention is being held, instead offering a lakefront park more than three miles away.
Eventually, the city agreed to allow demonstrations at a park closer to the United Center and a march route about a mile long. Although a federal judge approved this route, Coalition spokesman Hatem Abudayyeh said they would have preferred their original two-mile route, which they believe would be safer for larger crowds. The group is arranging buses to bring activists from about half a dozen states.
“We’re moving forward, full steam ahead,” Abudayyeh said.
The city has designated a park about a block from the United Center for a speakers’ stage, where each group will get 45 minutes.
The Philadelphia-based Poor People’s Army, an economic justice advocacy group, plans to set up at Humboldt Park on the city’s Northwest Side. Their events will feature third-party candidates like Jill Stein and Cornel West, and a three-mile march to the United Center on Monday.
Some members of the group have spent weeks marching over 80 miles from Milwaukee, where they protested during the Republican convention.
“Poor and homeless people are being brutalized, with tents and encampments destroyed and bulldozed from San Francisco to Philadelphia to Gaza and the West Bank,” said spokesperson Cheri Honkala as the group reached Illinois. “These human rights violations, which are preventable, are being committed by leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties.”
Will a New Nominee Make a Difference?
Many activists doubt that much will change, as they see Harris as part of the Biden administration.
“The demands remain the same. I haven’t seen any policy changes,” said Erica Bentley, an activist with Mamas Activating Movements for Abolition and Solidarity. “If you’re going to be here, you’re going to have to listen to what matters to us.”
Pro-Palestinian protesters have been highly visible in Chicago, blocking roads to the airport and staging sit-ins at congressional offices. Some are planning their own one-day convention on Sunday with third-party candidates.
“Regardless of who the nominee is, we’re marching against the Democrats and their brutal policies that have allowed Israel to kill over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza,” said Fayaani Aboma Mijana, an organizer with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
It’s unclear whether far-right extremists, who fervently support former President Donald Trump, will make an appearance at the convention.
According to Secret Service Deputy Special Agent in Charge Derek Mayer, there are no known specific security threats against the event.
Is Chicago Ready?
The convention is expected to draw around 50,000 people to the nation’s third-largest city, including delegates, activists, and journalists.
City officials say they’ve made all the necessary preparations with the police and the Secret Service. Security will be tight, with street closures around the convention center.
To ease traffic concerns, city leaders are promoting a new $80 million train station just steps from the United Center. They’ve also worked to beautify the city with fresh flowers and new signage, and have cleared a nearby homeless encampment.
Police have undergone training on constitutional policing, and county courts are preparing for potential mass arrests by opening more space. Hospitals near the security zone are ramping up emergency preparedness.
Authorities have made it clear that anyone vandalizing the city or engaging in violence will be arrested.
“We’re going to make sure that people’s First Amendment rights are protected and that they can do so safely,” Mayor Brandon Johnson told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
But concerns linger about safety, with some worried that protests could become unpredictable or descend into chaos.
Activist Hy Thurman, who protested and was arrested at the infamous 1968 convention, is now 74 and living in Alabama, but he plans to return to Chicago to protest the war in Gaza.
“It’s very personal for me,” Thurman said. “I see the parallels.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker expects peaceful protests.
“We intend to protect the protesters’ First Amendment rights, and also the residents and visitors of Chicago,” Pritzker told the AP in a recent interview.
