CHICAGO (CBS) — Protesters marched near the United Center Monday afternoon, drawing attention to the pro-Palestinian cause as the Democratic National Convention begins in Chicago.
A crowd of close to 3,000 people from more than 270 different organizations came together to form the coalition to protest.
The protesters’ City Hall-approved route began in Union Park. It headed south on Ashland Avenue, west on Washington Boulevard, north on Hermitage Avenue, and west on Maypole Avenue to Park 578. Then, it went to Damen Avenue, north to Lake Street, and east back to Union Park.
Some protesters breached a security fence into the DNC’s security perimeter on Monday afternoon. It initially appeared the first breach had been secured, but another fence was taken down soon afterward. At least four people were arrested, but no protesters got beyond the outer perimeter of the secure zone.
An hours-long standoff between police and a small number of agitators who had pitched tents temporarily ended Monday evening.
Before the march started, protesters in Union Park rallied for rights for immigrants, minorities, and women across the U.S. Ultimately, they want the U.S. to stop sending weapons to Israel, and they want an end to the war in Gaza and self-determination for Palestine.
“People are dying, and it’s my tax dollars funding that, so I wanted to do something to say that I don’t agree with that,” said Andie Windholz.
While the War in Gaza and the pro-Palestinian cause were the main subjects of the protest, other issues included a call to use the money funded to war to put toward American jobs, schools, and housing.
Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesman for the Coalition to March on the DNC, said he does not think the protesters can change everyone’s minds. But he believes some people can be swayed.
“I don’t have any expectation that we’re going to win our demands in four days, but I will say there’s a possibility that there could be a shift,” Abudayyeh said. “One thing that could happen is we hear something different from [vice president] Kamala [Harris] than we’ve heard in previous months.”
Several supporters of the coalition who are not part of any organization also turned out. They just wanted to be in Chicago to support the cause.
One man, Matthew Waterman, came from Washington, D.C., to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
“The Democratic Party, and Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris over the past ten months have provided the weapons and the funding and the diplomatic cover and the propaganda for a vicious genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza,” said Waterman.
One young man from Pittsburgh said he was prideful to walk the streets of Chicago with so many people for one cause—and he felt both the demonstrators and police were looking to keep everything peaceful.
“Both the protesters and the police are looking for peace,” said Murlat Abdoo. “I don’t think anyone has really instigated—well, other than the ones taking down the walls—but other than that, I don’t think there’s been any instigation, no purposeful violence, no threats to harm people.”
Abudayyeh said he was impressed with the turnout and dedication of the crowd.
“I love the diversity of the crowd. I love the passion of the crowd. I’m really happy with the program, with all of these people from different communities dealing with all of these different issues. I mean, how powerful is it—reproductive rights and women’s rights and labor rights and immigrant rights and Black liberation?
“And all of them going up on stage and talking about their issues—talking about how the Democratic Party is taking them for granted as well—but also saying we’re here to free Palestine,” Abudayyeh said. “We’re here to say stop U.S. aid to Israel. We’re here to stop a war and stop a genocide. It’s beautiful. It’s powerful.”
Earlier, independent presidential candidate Cornel West was in attendance as the protesters gathered in Union Park.
