Chicago Braces for Protests By at Least 5 Groups, Hundreds of Thousands of Demonstrators During DNC

These groups are officially scheduled to protest during the DNC

Chicago police prepare for huge number of protestors set to begin arriving in the city this weekendPhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

CHICAGO - As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) kicks off in Chicago on Monday, the city is preparing for a series of protests and demonstrations organized by various activist groups. The protests, which will begin on Sunday and continue throughout the week, are expected to draw attention to a range of causes as the nation’s political spotlight focuses on Chicago.

Protesters plan to converge near the United Center, where the convention’s evening events will take place, while others will hold rallies and events in different parts of the city, including the Loop. The city has designated a speaker platform in Park 578, located at 1919 W. Maypole Ave., where activists can address the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day from Monday through Thursday.

Security measures around the DNC have been heightened, with the Secret Service working in conjunction with local law enforcement to establish secure perimeters around key convention sites, including McCormick Place, where daytime meetings will occur, and the United Center, the primary venue for the convention's evening activities. These security zones are expected to impact traffic and public transit in the affected areas, and motorists and commuters are advised to plan accordingly.

The protest schedule begins on Sunday with two major events. At 5 p.m., the group "Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws" will hold a march starting at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive. Later, at 6 p.m., the Poor People’s Army will host a rally and festival at Vintage Hall, located at 1625 W. Diversey Parkway.

On Monday, the Coalition to March on the DNC will lead a rally at noon in Union Park, at 1501 W. Randolph St. Following the rally, participants will march toward the United Center. The route for this march was the subject of a recent legal dispute with the city, which was resolved when a federal judge upheld the city’s proposed route.

Later that day, the Poor People’s Army will gather again, this time at 4 p.m. at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts, located at 3015 W. Division St., before marching to the United Center.

The Illinois Policy Institute has also announced a protest scheduled for 7 p.m. at the intersection of Madison and Damen streets. However, the proposed location falls within the Secret Service’s security perimeter around the United Center, raising questions about whether the protest will proceed as planned.

On Wednesday, the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine will host a rally at 4 p.m. in Union Park, followed by a march to the United Center. This group, like others, has expressed its intent to ensure their voices are heard near the convention’s main venue. Over 100,000 protestors are expected by Muslim leaders. Although they have largely won legal cases in their favor including being allowed to protest "within sight and sound" of the United Center, they continue to pursue legal action. Their permits allow them to protest at Park 578 and Union Park. Although they will have a sound stage, public toilets and other amenities at one location they are protesting at, they are demanding the same amenities at the second site.

The week of protests will conclude on Thursday with another event organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC. The group will hold a rally at Union Park at 5 p.m., followed by a final march to the United Center, mirroring Monday’s actions.

Notably absent from the groups of protestors with permits are an Pro-Israel groups. The Israeli American Council applied for a permit with the city which was denied. The Department of Transportation offered them an alternated area, however it was several blocks away and they declined and didn’t appeal, so no permits were granted. The group will instead install an art exhibit at a private lot which doesn't require a permit honoring the hostages killed and those still held in Gaza.

The heightened security around the DNC has been a focal point of planning for months. In addition to establishing perimeters around key venues, the Secret Service and local police are coordinating to manage the expected influx of protesters and ensure the safety of both convention attendees and demonstrators. The security measures are likely to disrupt normal traffic flow and public transit routes, particularly near the United Center and McCormick Place, where the bulk of convention activities will occur.

As Chicago prepares to host the DNC, the city is also reflecting on the potential for large-scale protests, drawing comparisons to the infamous 1968 DNC in Chicago, which saw violent clashes between police and anti-Vietnam War demonstrators and the arrest and trial of the Chicago 7 (originally 8 until Black Panther leader Bobby Seale's case was severed from the others).

The Democratic National Convention will run from August 19 to August 22, with Chicago officials and the U.S. Secret Service providing continuous updates on security protocols and any potential disruptions to daily life in the city.