Protestors break through portion of security barrier on first night of DNC

CHICAGO — While the Democratic National Convention kicked off its first day at the United Center, demonstrators gathered nearby for a large protest against the war in Gaza.

Thousands of demonstrators, including at least two Chicago aldermen, Carlos Ramierz-Rosa and Byron Sigcho-Lopez, marched slowly through the streets of Chicago’s West Side toward the United Center with a message for the DNC on Monday.

The demonstrators in Union Park comprise the Coalition to March on the DNC, made up of a number of different groups that are centered around a protest of the Israeli-Palestinian war.

The rally began around noon at Union Park before the demonstrators marched west toward the United Center. After a number of speeches at Park #578 near the United Center, the demonstrators are expected to march back to Union Park for another rally.

“And we know that this protest movement, led by Palestinians, demanding this arms embargo, demanding a cease-fire, demanding peace and safety and freedom for everybody,” Malkah Bird, from the group Jewish Hoosiers for a Free Palestine, said.

Monday’s march was the product of a months-long fight in federal courts for permits and the route to take in order to be heard.

The demonstrators said they wanted their voices heard by the delegates and the Democratic leadership about their opposition to the war in Gaza and the aid going from the U.S. to Israel.

The coalition’s march is approved to cover just over one mile, but the demonstrators have been fighting for a longer route, one of about 2.4 miles.

Abudayyeh said the demonstrators would continue fighting for the longer march route right up until 2 p.m. Monday when they stepped off from Union Park.

As demonstrators gathered Monday, Hatem listed the coalition’s demands.

“They’re all coming together in unity to express the central demand and the central issue of this week of protests at the DNC, which is “Stop U.S. aid to Israel,” organizer for the Coalition to March on the DNC Hatem Abudayyeh said.

No matter the length of the protest march, Hatem says the coalition will be heard because it’s too large to ignore.

“The most exciting thing happening this week is happening out here, and not in that building (the United Center),” he said. “And I think that they will hear us. Because I know that size — thousands of people — projects way over one block. And we’re going to be within a block of that building, so they’re absolutely going to hear us. And they already know we’re out here.

“… The world is watching. That means Kamala Harris and Joe Biden and (Secretary of State) Antony Blinken … and all the top leaders in the Democratic Party have to watch, as well.”

As the crowd of demonstrators began to swell Monday, a number of CPD officers were also making their way to Union Park on bikes. Those officers will be riding alongside the protesters when they march off from the park.

DNC 2024 security zones and protest plans: What we know

Earlier Monday, WGN talked to retired Secret Service agent G. Michael Verden, founder and CEO of the Lake Forest Group, about what CPD’s role will be during protests this week. Verden said CPD has a “coordinated mass arrest policy.”

“They don’t want to arrest. They want to deescalate,” Verden explained. “If they do have to arrest, there’s also a policy in place where they call it a ‘cite and release.’ They arrest on ‘sight,’ and then you have a court date.

“… If you block traffic, you’re not protected by the First Amendment. You could go to jail. Physical violence, encampment, the burning of a building, you’ll probably go to jail.”

At around 4:45 p.m. after marching to an area near Park #578, along Washington Boulevard, a group of protestors broke through the barricades that make up a portion of the security barrier surrounding the United Center for the DNC.

Sunday: Hundreds of demonstrators march downtown, prompting rolling street closures

A second layer of security fencing blocked the protestors who managed to get through the first layer as officers looked on.

WGN-TV’s Sean Lewis, who was on the scene when the breach occurred, said a few hundred got through the fencing following the breach.

The security barrier was made up of metal fencing and by 5 p.m., several sections had been pushed down.

Officers could then be seen working to push the protestors back to the area where they were permitted to hold their demonstration.

As officers worked to control the crowd, protestors could be heard chanting “shame.”

Many of the protestors who wound up in the area after marching from Union Park had moved on by about 5:30, but a few hundred remained in the area where the breach occurred.

Following the incident, Chicago police shared a statement detailing the breach and said law enforcement personnel were immediately on the scene and contained the situation.

Officers said their National Special Security Event plan employs a multi-layered approach, which involves the use of multiple layers of fencing, including an outer perimeter fence and an inner perimeter fence.

According to police, the inner perimeter was never breached.

After more than a year of planning, Chicago is at the center of the political spotlight this week as host of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Day 1 Recap:

Day 1 of DNC wraps with Biden giving Harris an enthusiastic endorsement

Chicago mayor addresses convention, celebrates Harris: ‘she’s got us’

Harris praises Biden in surprise DNC appearance

Protesters breach portion of DNC security barrier

Photos: Celebs spotted at the DNC

Biden takes maiden flight on new ‘Marine One’ in Chicago

Lt. Gov Stratton: Biden among most effective presidents; Harris best to defeat Trump

Carol Moseley Braun, Illinois’ first female senator, affirms Harris’ readiness

The convention runs through Thursday. Chicago has hosted Democrats 12 times, the last being nearly 30 years ago when President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term.

WGN Cover Story: Why Chicago has hosted more presidential conventions than any other city.

• Security Zones & Protest Plans: What we know

• Expected speakers this week

• Chicago2024.com | Chicago’s DNC Website

• DemConvention.com | Democratic Convention Official Website

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