DNC Day 1: Protesters, police clash outside as festivities begin inside

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) began Monday in Chicago, with roughly 50,000 people expected to arrive in the city.

Monday night’s keynote speaker is President Joe Biden, who’s expected to take the stage shortly after 9 p.m. and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. Listen live to Biden’s speech on the free Audacy app .

Ahead of the first night’s festivities, protests and other events took place throughout the day to mark the beginning of the massive convention. Below, find reporting from WBBM Newsradio’s Brandon Ison, Craig Dellimore, Sarah Herrera and Andy Dahn — who were on the scene to capture it all.

Several thousand protesters marched just north of the United Center on Monday afternoon prior to the scheduled events inside the arena.

Organized demonstrators initially stuck to their planned route and voiced their concerns as more than 200 Chicago police officers lined the streets north of the United Center.

At about 4:45 p.m., though, a couple dozen protesters broke through a metal fence barrier at Washington Street and Wolcott Avenue. Dozens of Chicago police officers responded to the scene in riot gear. By 5:30 p.m., the protesters appeared to be cleared from the area.

Four people were arrested following the breach.

The remaining several thousand demonstrators continued along their approved route and marched east to Union Park.

Two words described the first in a series of four breakfasts for the Illinois Democratic convention delegates: Excitement and urgency.

Among the lead-off speakers was Gov. JB Pritzker, who read the room and matched the excitement with optimism.

“We are launching our federal candidates for president and vice president toward victory so that, in just 78 days, we will get to say the two words that we’ve been waiting 248 years to say: Madame president,” he said.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), like others who spoke at the breakfast, said it will take a lot of hard work for the Harris-Walz ticket to win.

“We need to be the rocket fuel — the rocket fuel that launches them on Nov. 5,” Duckworth said.

In a speech that was, at times, too profane to put on the radio, Terry O’Sullivan, president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, said the labor movement was fully in this fight.

“When the bell rings, we come out swinging,” O’Sullivan said. “We won’t back down; we won’t stand down; we won’t step down; we won’t be kept down; and we won’t be held down.”

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) agreed: There is so much on the line.

As Democrats rallied for their convention on Monday, Republicans were making their presence known in Chicago, too.

Each day during the convention, different Republicans will be at Trump Tower.

“Today’s theme is, ‘How to Make America Wealthy,’” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).

Johnson was joined by senior Trump campaign advisor Brian Hughes and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.,) who took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris' economic plans.

“There’s no way anybody can point to the successful implementation of price controls,” Johnson said. “That’s her policy? Another $2 trillion of spending?”

Johnson also criticized Democrats over Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race.

“[Harris] never got a vote in the primary,” he said. “She’s just been crowned the nominee. They’ve kicked President Biden to the curb very unceremoniously.”

This week’s Democratic National Convention isn’t all about politics. It’s also giving some local small businesses a chance to show off what they have to offer.

“Just to be here, it’s fantastic,” said Thad Smith of West Side Bee Boys.

Smith, of West Side Bee Boys, was among dozens of local businesses and organizations taking part in what’s been called “DemPalooza” inside McCormick Place. The event will give each group their own set-ups and a chance to chat with DNC attendees.

“I’m a Black beekeeper [who’s] about to witness a Black woman become the nominee for the president of the United States — with bees,” Smith said. “Come. It doesn’t get any better than that, bro.”

Among those chatting with visitors was the Bronzeville Community Development Initiative’s Rhonda Hardy, who was donning a “Harris for President” shirt.

“It’s a little frustrating with the logistics because it’s such a big place, but once you get here, everyone is great,” Hardy said.

Smith, Hardy and others who spoke to WBBM said that while this week’s festivities may be overwhelming for the city as a whole, it’s special to be a part of it.

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