Chicago – As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was taking place at the United Center arena a few miles away, hundreds of people protested against Israel in Chicago for a third consecutive night.
Protesters, many wearing keffiyeh, gathered in much larger numbers than on Tuesday and marched down Maypole Avenue along 578th Park, waving flags and banners, including huge banners that read, “Biden, Harris, You Will See! Palestine Will Be Free!”, “End US Support for Israel” and “Stop Genocide.”
“Democrats, your hands are red!” a protest leader yelled into a megaphone, eliciting callbacks from the crowd.
Fox News’ Paul Mauro, who was at the scene, described the evening’s protests as “peaceful but very loud.”
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Protesters participate in a demonstration by the Chicago Coalition for Palestinian Justice on August 21, 2024. (Fox News Digital)
“It’s definitely the biggest I’ve ever seen. It’s so big, in fact, that it has three separate loudspeakers that are three or four blocks long, probably about a half mile long,” Mauro said.
Demonstrators hold flags during a protest in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hamas, on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 21, 2024. (Reuters/Leah Millis)
Police then instructed the protesters to return to Union Park, where the protest had begun. The police were well-organized and blocked the route of the protest with bicycle and riot police. As the sun set, the crowd gradually began to disperse, although some protesters remained.
The demonstration took place just a few miles from the United Center, where former President Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were scheduled to attend on Wednesday.
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Chicago police confirmed Wednesday that 56 protesters had been arrested following violent clashes with police the previous day.
A man covers himself with an Israeli flag as he watches an anti-Israel protest on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 21, 2024. (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)
The clashes occurred outside the Israeli Consulate building about two miles from the United Center.
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Chicago police said one person was charged with a felony for resisting an officer. Nine others were charged with misdemeanor charges including disorderly conduct, resisting an officer, assault, battery and criminal damage to property, police said. Thirty people detained by police received summonses for disorderly conduct.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
