After thousands assemble at the DNC, Biden claims that demonstrators from Gaza have a point.
On the eve of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), thousands of demonstrators protested peacefully in the streets, demanding an end to US backing for Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza.
However, a number of protestors were taken into custody after breaking past a security fence around the Chicago site in their dozens. The number of attendees seems to be far less than the organizers' projected tens of thousands and even less than the 15,000 they said showed up.
During his departure statement to the primetime conference afterwards, President Joe Biden admitted that the protesters "out on the roads have a purpose".
Numerous innocent individuals are dying, on both sides of the conflict, he added, stressing the need for a US-brokered ceasefire, which has so far shown to be unattainable. Disagreements among Republicans over America's backing for Israel's Gaza conflict, one of the more divisive topics in American political discourse on the conservative side, have been brought to light by demonstrations in Chicago.
A few people of pro-Palestinian protestors broke down a barrier encircling the convention security perimeter at a certain point during Monday's demonstration and began to pour through.
The demonstrators did not scale an inner safety fence, according to Chicago Police, and the situation was rapidly subsided. There were four people in custody at least. Several protesters against the Gaza war claimed they did not see much of an impact between Mr. Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, who is currently formally accepting the nomination of the Democratic Party for president after the president withdrew from the contest last month and praised her.
Democratic Party support for Israeli repression is still prevalent, despite a change in appearance, according to Omar Younes, co-founder of the Chicago-based Palestinian youth organization Jisoor.
Tallis George Munro, another demonstrator, declared he would unquestionably support Ms. Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, but he weren't interested in to provide them a "free pass" for endorsing Israel's attack in Gaza. Cleveland, Ohio resident Mr. Munro expressed greater concern over what he called a "bigger threat"—the proposals of Republican contender Donald Trump. "We are close to white Christian nationalism with Trump," he stated. "That is the largest issue facing our nation right now."
Some demonstrators told the media that they would either abstain from voting altogether or support Jill Stein, the Green Party's nominee. Cornel West, a left-wing activist and philosopher professor, spoke to the gathering attendees as a Republican presidential candidate. "This is not about any Machiavellian strategy or any utilitarian calculation concerning a presidential elections," he said to the audience. "This is about ethics."
Protesters marched around the DNC site along a 1.1-mile (1.8-kilometer) path, chanting "No equity, no stability, get the US out of the Middle East" and "Kamala Harris is a cop, this entire assault has to restrict," which is an allusion to the vice president's past as a lawyer and prosecutor's office in California. The route had been the subject of months of legal disputes. "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" was another chant uttered by the protesters. This is the region that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the west to the River Jordan, which borders Israel and the occupied West Bank on the east. Pro-Palestinian organizations dispute that the slogan is offensive, despite anti-Semitism monitors claiming it calls for the destruction of Israel.
A small group of pro-Israeli counterprotesters had previously in the day assembled on the perimeter of Union Park, the starting and finishing points of the pro-Palestinian march. People from nearby states and beyond attended the march. As a representative of the Colorado Springs People's Coalition, Karyna Lemus was present. She claimed to have spent decades working for Palestinian rights. Regarding the DNC delegates, she remarked, "I hope they hear us within."
Throughout the remainder of the convention week, protests will take place. In reaction to an extraordinary onslaught on southern Israel on October 7th, in which over 1,200 people were killed and 251 held hostage, the Israeli military commenced a war in Gaza to eliminate Hamas.
Since consequently, the health ministry in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, has reported over 40,000 deaths in the region.
