As the Democratic National Convention entered its second night, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with hundreds of police officers outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago. The standoff, which began on the first night of the convention, continued to escalate, with more than a dozen arrests made late Tuesday evening. According to police, the demonstrations were deemed an “unlawful assembly,” and officers were authorized to use force to disperse the crowd.
The protest, which began earlier in the day, saw hundreds of protesters gather outside the consulate, where they chanted slogans and held signs calling for an end to the war in Gaza. As the night wore on, however, the atmosphere became increasingly tense, with officers carrying wooden clubs attempting to pen in the protesters and prevent them from marching.
Despite the attempts to disperse the crowd, the protesters remained steadfast, with many refusing to back down in the face of police intimidation. Some even set an American flag on fire in the street, while others carried Palestinian flags and wore black, covering their faces.
The Israelis Consulate, which has been the site of numerous demonstrations since the war in Gaza began last October, was heavily fortified, with dozens of Chicago police officers posted outside. The surrounding area was also heavily patrolled, with many of the nearby shops and businesses closed due to the unrest.
Fierce Protests Erupt Outside Israeli Consulate (Image via Getty)
As the night wore on, the protests showed no signs of abating, with many in the crowd calling for US leaders to take a stronger stance on the conflict in Gaza. Elan Carr, the chief executive of the Israeli-American Council, condemned the pro-Palestinian protesters, calling them “fringe crazies” and demanding that US leaders “stand unequivocally with the state of Israel.”
The tension between the protesters and police was palpable, with officers using pepper spray and batons to disperse the crowd. Despite the violence, most of the protesters remained peaceful, with the majority of the arrests made for breaching security fencing or resisting arrest.
As the city braced for further protests throughout the week, officials remained committed to maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of all citizens. “We’re not going to tolerate vandalism and violence in our city,” said Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling. “We’re going to continue to protect the city.”
The Coalition to March on the DNC, which has organized many of the largest demonstrations, has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and greater US involvement in ending the conflict. While smaller protests have popped up around the city, the main rally on Monday saw attendance far below estimates, with around 3,500 protesters showing up.
