Muslim leaders expect 100,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators for DNC
CHICAGO — Leaders of four Muslim organizations say they’re expecting upwards of 100,000 demonstrators to take part in a number of protests during the Democratic National Convention.
Three main protests are being planned for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, the first and last days of the convention. More than 150 organizations from around the country say they’ve formed a collective to have these protests be large in numbers, and while they represent a number of different interests, they say they will be focused on the Israeli-Palestinian war.
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The leaders at a Monday morning press event said there will also be meetings with the Democratic leaders inside the convention about the US response in the Middle East. About 65 of the DNC delegates this year are Muslim.
Their push is to get President Biden to arrange a permanent ceasefire and work toward a Palestinian state before he leaves office.
“The president has failed once again to really bring peace and ceasefire. He was able to send quite a bit of weapons to Israel, 2,000 pounds of bombs, but he could not send crates of food and medicine,” said Oussama Jammal with the US Council of Muslim Organizations.
Dr. Muhammad Abdulgany Hamedeh with The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago said elected officials have failed to enforce the resumption of humanitarian aid to Palestinians facing famine.
“These military actions have inflicted much pain and suffering on the civilians living in Gaza,” he said.
The groups say they’re hopeful with a change of tone they hear from the Kamala Harris and Tim Walz campaign about the war.
“Especially in this election and the other presidential candidates, she gives us some hope,” said Sayed Khan of Illinois Muslim Political Action Committee Membership.
A federal judge is expected to rule Tuesday on routes the demonstrators will be able to take to exercise their First Amendment rights.
The Chicago area is home to the largest Palestinian population in the United States.
Democrats will host their nominating convention in Chicago August 19-22. Chicago has hosted Democrats 12 times, the last being nearly 30 years ago when President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term.
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