Anti-Israel demonstrators clashed with police and breached a fence outside the United Center on the first day of the Democratic National Convention. The incident occurred after thousands of protesters marched towards the convention, shouting slogans against Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
As the crowd approached the United Center, some protesters broke through a police fence. Officers, wearing gas masks, tried to prevent the crowd from breaching a second fence. Police yelled at protesters to stay back as more officers arrived to repair the damaged fence.
In a statement, the DNC Public Safety Joint Information Center noted, “Demonstrators breached a portion of anti-scale fencing along the Democratic National Convention’s outer perimeter near the United Center on August 19. Law enforcement personnel were immediately on-scene and contained the situation. At no point was the inner perimeter breached, and there was no threat to any protectees.” They also highlighted the multi-layered security plan, emphasising that the outer perimeter fence was designed to prevent entry into the inner perimeter. Chicago police were on-site, working to clear the area.
Protesters directed chants at the police, including “quit your job” and “shame.” They also criticised President Biden with chants of “Biden, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide,” referring to him as “Genocide Joe,” and similar chants were aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris.
President Biden, who faces criticism from anti-Israel groups, is set to address the party in the evening. Despite Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, protesters maintain their plans as the party supports Harris, who will accept the Democratic nomination this week.
Earlier in the day, protesters marched a mile-long route ending at a park near the United Center, with hundreds of police officers lining the streets. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling marched with officers ahead of the protesters. Organisers expected at least 20,000 participants, but only a few thousand appeared at the start of the march.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened at the Democratic National Convention on Monday?
Anti-Israel demonstrators clashed with police, breached a fence, and shouted slogans against President Biden and VP Harris.
Why did the protesters march towards the United Center?
They were signaling their opposition to Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Did the protesters breach the inner perimeter of the convention?
No, only the outer perimeter fence was breached, and there was no threat to any protectees.
How did the police respond to the fence breach?
Police put on gas masks, repaired the breached fence, and worked to clear the area.
How many people participated in the protest?
Organizers hoped for 20,000, but only a few thousand were present when the march began.
