Current:Home > ScamsProtesters plan large marches and rallies as Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago -BeyondWealth Learning
Protesters plan large marches and rallies as Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago
View
Date:2025-04-13 16:59:00
CHICAGO (AP) — Crowds of activists are expected to gather in Chicago for protests outside the Democratic National Convention this week, hoping to call attention to such issues as economic injustice, reproductive rights and the war in Gaza.
While Vice President Kamala Harris has galvanized the party as she gears up to accept the Democratic nomination, activists say their plans to demonstrate haven’t changed. They’re ready to amplify their progressive message before the nation’s top Democratic leaders.
Their issues cover climate change, abortion rights and racial equality, to name a few, but many activists agree an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war is the overarching message of the demonstrations. They’ve likened it to the Vietnam War of their generation. The Chicago area has one of the largest Palestinian communities in the nation and buses are bringing activists to Chicago from all over the country. Organizers estimate turnout for Monday’s march and rally, on the first day of the convention, to be at least 20,000 people.
“We have to play our part in the belly of the beast to stop the genocide, to end U.S. aid to Israel and stand with Palestine,” said Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC.
The coalition is made up of hundreds of organizations, including students. Activists say they learned lessons from last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. They expect bigger crowds and more robust demonstrations through the week.
The first protest on Sunday night brought together those calling for abortion and LGBTQ+ rights and an end to the war in Gaza. The march lasted for hours, along a route lined by police, and showed no signs of major conflicts.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who was under consideration as Harris’ running mate, said peaceful protests were welcome.
“There are a lot of people who are inside the hall who will believe in some of those messages and carry that with them,” Pritzker told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “But importantly, the Democratic Party doesn’t shut people out and disallow them from expressing their First Amendment rights.”
But some have lingering safety concerns, worried that protests could become unpredictable or devolve into chaos.
Chicago, which has hosted more political conventions than any other U.S. city, has been unable to escape comparisons to the infamous 1968 convention where police and anti-Vietnam War protesters violently clashed on live television.
Some businesses boarded up their windows as a precaution and county courts said they would open more space in case of mass arrests. Chicago police say officers have undergone extensive training on constitutional policing and de-escalation tactics.
Coalition activists and the city have been at odds over the location of the protests and other logistics. A judge sided with the city over an approximately 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) march route, which organizers argue isn’t big enough for the expected crowds. Abudayyeh said the coalition would continue to push for a much longer route until the march started on Monday.
Also Monday, the Philadelphia-based Poor People’s Army, which advocates for economic justice, plans to set up at Humboldt Park on the northwest side of Chicago and will feature events with third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West, plus a 3-mile (5-kilometer) march.
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Today’s news: Follow live updates from the campaign trail from the AP.
- Ground Game: Sign up for AP’s weekly politics newsletter to get it in your inbox every Monday.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
Aside from the protests the city is also hosting a speakers’ stage at a park outside the convention center with 45-minute time slots. Most of the organizations who’ve signed up have the same progressive agenda as the coalition, but the list also includes the Israeli American Council and the conservative-leaning Illinois Policy Institute. A local firefighters union is also hoping to call attention to their contract fight with the city.
“The First Amendment is fundamental to our democracy,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former union organizer, told the AP in an interview last week. “I’ll do everything in my power to protect the right to assemble in protest.”
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- John Robinson, successful football coach at USC and with the LA Rams, has died at 89
- 2025 Medicare Part B premium increase outpaces both Social Security COLA and inflation
- Ranked voting will decide a pivotal congressional race. How does that work?
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- Wisconsin authorities believe kayaker staged his disappearance and fled to Europe
- Auburn surges, while Kansas remains No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll
- Mike Williams Instagram post: Steelers' WR shades Aaron Rodgers 'red line' comments
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Katharine Hayhoe’s Post-Election Advice: Fight Fear, Embrace Hope and Work Together
Ranking
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- US Election Darkens the Door of COP29 as It Opens in Azerbaijan
- Messi breaks silence on Inter Miami's playoff exit. What's next for his time in the US?
- NFL Week 10 winners, losers: Cowboys' season can no longer be saved
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Sam LaPorta injury update: Lions TE injures shoulder, 'might miss' Week 11
- Watch as massive amount of crabs scamper across Australian island: 'It's quite weird'
- Harriet Tubman posthumously named a general in Veterans Day ceremony
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Katherine Schwarzenegger Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3 With Chris Pratt
Bitcoin has topped $87,000 for a new record high. What to know about crypto’s post-election rally
Auburn surges, while Kansas remains No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
The Best Corduroy Pants Deals from J.Crew Outlet, Old Navy, Levi’s & More, Starting at $26
Auburn surges, while Kansas remains No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll
All Social Security retirees should do this by Nov. 20