- Thousands protest for Gaza outside DNC as Harris accepts nomination
- Around 15,000 marched, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US support for Israel
- Biden said “a lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides”
- Many of the demonstrators expressed frustration with both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris
Thousands protest for Gaza outside DNC as Harris accepts nomination
Thousands of protesters marched near the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on its opening day, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US support for Israel. While the protest was mostly peaceful, several demonstrators were arrested after breaking through a security fence around the venue. The turnout was lower than expected, with far fewer than the 15,000 organisers claimed.
In his primetime convention speech, President Joe Biden acknowledged the protesters’ concerns, stating that “a lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides,” and called for a US-brokered ceasefire.
During the demonstration, a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters breached an outer security fence but did not get past the inner perimeter. Chicago police quickly contained the situation, detaining at least four people.
Thousands of protesters march to the DNC, primarily to protest about Gaza. The chant is “Killer Kamala, what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?”
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) August 19, 2024
Echoing the famous LBJ taunt about Vietnam. pic.twitter.com/GuWzm7T9Q8
Many of the demonstrators expressed frustration with both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is set to formally accept the Democratic nomination this week after Biden stepped down and endorsed her.
“The Democratic Party may present a new face, but its support for Israeli repression remains unchanged,” said Omar Younes, a co-founder of Jisoor, a Palestinian youth organisation in Chicago.