It’s suppose to be the crowning achievement of Vice President Kamala Harris: Being anointed the Queen of the Democratic Party at the 2024 presidential convention in Chicago.
President Joe Biden will be ushered on stage to clap. Gov. Tim Walz will be nearby. Former President Barack Obama will sing her praises.
But instead of her big moment, it may instead be a huge meltdown — because between 30,000 to 100,000 anti-Israel protesters are expected to try and break up the Democratic National Convention, Chicago police warn.
And it could lead to be a night reminiscent of the 1968 Chicago DNC riots that help lead to a resounding election victory for President Richard Nixon.
Chicago is preparing for what could be the largest pro-Palestine, anti-Israel protests in the city’s history as the DNC convenes in the Windy City next week.
Protests are planned for August 19 and 22, coinciding with the opening and closing days of the convention. Demonstrators intend to gather in Park 578 and Union Park, both near the United Center where key DNC events will take place.
Others have warned that there will be planned disruptions in the main DNC hall during the height of the convention.
“It’ll be the largest protest in the history of Chicago for Palestinian rights, specifically,” said Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair for the US Palestinian Community Network, an antisemitic group with reported ties to Islamic terror sympathizers.
The demonstrations come after months of conflict in Gaza, following Hamas’ attack and the massacre of 1,200 Israeli civilians last October.
Protesters criticize the Biden-Harris administration’s response to the situation for supporting Israel’s right to self-defense. Israel is the only functional, classically liberal democracy in the Middle East.
“Genocide Joe Biden has stepped down from running for President as the Democratic Party nominee. His decision doesn’t change the policies of Democratic Party leadership, specifically their support of the genocide in Palestine, so our movement must continue to apply pressure,” one group said.
Chicago officials have been preparing for nearly a year, and Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said that resources will be deployed citywide.
“If everyone is doing exactly what is expected of them and they are exercising their first amendment rights, this isn’t an arrest situation,” Snelling stated. “But we will not guarantee someone that we’re not going to make arrests if they start to act violently or commit crimes.”
In anticipation of unrest and riots that often accompany anti-Israel protests, the city has reopened a defunct courtroom at a police station to process detainees.
The situation evokes memories of the violent 1968 DNC protests in Chicago, where over 600 demonstrators were arrested. However, Snelling pointed to the successful 1996 convention as a more recent example of peaceful proceedings.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi emphasized the event’s security status: “What people really need to understand is this is a national security event. Every resource of the federal, state, county and local government will be used.”