Chicago officials have begun constructing a massive wall around the Democratic National Convention venue as they prepare for chaos by massive crowds of pro-Palestinian protestors.
These protests follow nationwide protests against the U.S. response to the Gaza conflict since the October 7 attacks on Israel. Protests have occurred at various locations, including Washington D.C., where demonstrators have clashed with police and disrupted events featuring Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
The protests are expected to continue throughout the convention, with additional demonstrations planned by other left-wing groups, including those advocating for global abortion rights and calling for U.S. disengagement from foreign wars. Organizers anticipate that over 20,000 activists and students will participate.
Democrat lawmakers were, reportedly, forewarned of the chaos the protestors are expected to cause.
The New York Post reported:
Protesters are expected to wreak such havoc at next week’s Democratic National Convention, some members of Congress have been told not to book hotels in their own names, according to a new report from Axios.
They’ve also been warned to avoid staying in certain area’s of the host city, Chicago, and one Democratic lawmaker told the website they were “very concerned” about personal security. At least some area hotels have been getting calls from people with random requests for names.
“The protesters aren’t staying in a designated protest site … and there are people who are going to go and really try to cause trouble,” the lawmaker added.
Watch:
🚨 The Democrats are currently building a MASSIVE wall around their convention in Chicago
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 17, 2024
This is PEAK irony 🤣
I thought walls were racist, Kamala? What changed? pic.twitter.com/n5pKpsUsCN
In response, Chicago officials have begun building an extensive makeshift barrier around the convention site. The city has permitted protests within a mile of the United Center after a federal judge struck down plans to keep them at a greater distance.
Fortification by fencing for upcoming DNC in my neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/XocKaYWZJZ
— Lira Luis (@liraluis) August 17, 2024
From CBS:
The preparations for the Democratic National Convention are in high gear, and on Saturday security measures surprisingly spilled over into neighborhoods nowhere near the United Center or McCormick Place.
At the Dirksen Federal Building in the Loop, security gates popped up overnight to prevent anyone from vandalizing the courthouse, while people living along the Magnificent Mile and Gold Coast discovered unexpected more security gates and road closures miles away from the DNC sites.
“They put this up like 5:30 in the morning. So they kind of did it under the wraps,” Chris McClendon. “I live right over here at the Hancock Building. When I came outside, I had to go check the map to see what’s going on. I thought this was at the United Center.”
Along the Magnificent Mile near Chicago Avenue, roads have been blocked off, police officers are on standby, and large security gates have partially cut off access to sidewalks. The measures popped up overnight, leaving McClendon a little perplexed.
“I had to go back and get my wallet to make sure no one checked me, because I heard they’re going to do checks and stuff like that,” he said.
Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC, expressed satisfaction with the group’s victory in securing the right to protest closer to the convention. However, he also voiced concerns about safety and indicated a preference for a longer protest route. The group plans to bus in protesters from at least two dozen states.
“We’re moving forward at full speed,” he told the Associated Press.
