Anti-Israel protester steals mic at event on eve of DNC, additional protests planned
Anti-Israel protester jumps stage, blames administration for deaths in Gaza
Protests against Israel erupted Sunday ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, with demonstrators disrupting a delegate event and warning of intensified actions throughout the week. (Credit: Instagram/ @directactions4palestine)
A lone, masked anti-Israel protester disrupted the Democratic National Convention welcome party on stage at Navy Pier in Chicago on Sunday night, video posted to social media shows.
"You are funding a genocide," the protester said after storming the stage and grabbing a microphone. "The Harris-Biden administration keeps sending money to Israel."
As the protester was being dragged offstage, others could be heard chanting, "Free, Free Palestine."
The video, posted to Instagram by anti-Israel group @directactions4palestine, has text calling it a "disruption" and that "Gaza will be heard."
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Protests against Israel erupted Sunday ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, with demonstrators disrupting a delegate event and warning of intensified actions throughout the week. (Instagram/ @directactions4palestine)
The Instagram profile includes a link to a cloud-based messaging service named Telegram, with a thread called "Shutdown the DNC."
It is not the only protest that has happened, and more are expected.
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The March For Bodies Against Unjust Laws proceeds along Michigan Ave to Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, on Aug. 18, 2024. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
On Monday afternoon, the Coalition to March on the DNC began a march against the Israel-Hamas war from Chicago's Union Park.
At least five additional publicly announced rallies are set to take place up to the convention's final ceremonies on Thursday, FOX 32 Chicago reports.
The March For Bodies Against Unjust Laws drew hundreds of protesters who marched more than a mile down Michigan Ave. to Grant Park. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Early Monday, the United States Palestinian Community Network hosted a demonstration in Union Park, according to FOX 32. The TV station also noted that protesters gathered downtown on Sunday to voice demands for LGBTQ and abortion rights.
"People in the city of Chicago shouldn’t be afraid," Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said during a Monday afternoon presentation before the City Club of Chicago, according to FOX 32. "You should not be afraid to go about your day and do what you normally do. Will there be disruptions in traffic? Yes. So you’re going to see a lot more traffic. But you’re also going to see a lot more officers. High visibility of officers, bike patrol, you’re going to see all of those things out there."
