(NewsNation) — With the Democratic National Convention set to start next week, protesters are preparing to try to make their voices heard during the event.
In one week, an estimated 30,000 protesters are expected to descend on the city of Chicago, hoping to capture the attention of the DNC with blow horns, chants and passionate cries for change.
The coalition march on the DNC is made up of more than 200 organizations with varying causes, from reproductive rights to combating police brutality to those seeking environmental change.
But it’s the war in Gaza that has motivated activists from all over the world and 21 states to add their voices to the rallying cry.
“We have a constitutionally protected right to bring our demand to end the genocide of the Palestinian people to the doorstep of the Democratic Party,” said Muhammad Sankari, with the United States Palestinian Community Network.
The march on the DNC is demanding the U.S. cut off funding to Israel and the lead-up to the event has been non-stop.
NewsNation was given behind-the-scenes access to see how organizers are planning and preparing, including efforts to spread their message and recruit new volunteers.
“This has been a year-long struggle to build for this march and, at this point, we are 200 organizations strong and we are ready to march in the tens of thousands,” said organizer Faayani Aboma Mijana.
In the leadup to the DNC, the Anti-Defamation League has instructed pro-Israel supporters not to engage with protesters. But counter-protests have risen up across the country.
Jewish leaders are already warning city officials of possible violence and vandalism in the streets like that which has been seen in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
“We see it on the posters in the cities and plastered all over that say escalate! Escalate for Gaza! Escalate at the DNC,” said Sarah Van Loon, regional director of the American Jewish Committee. “What else could that mean? It certainly doesn’t mean escalating peace.”
When asked whether he denounced those types of protests, Sankari returned the topic to the demands of the protesters.
“I condemn our government’s full sail support of genocide. And I condemn the ADL and JUF support of genocide,” he said. “That’s the main issue, respectfully.”
NewsNationa also asked if the march on the DNC coalition had made good-faith efforts to meet with those on the other side and find common ground.
“I don’t think that there’s any good faith effort that can happen while these institutions sit and cheerlead the mass starvation, the mass killing and the mass rape of the Palestinian people,” Sanakri said.
Van Loon objected to the characterization.
“We are also pro-Palestinian, but we are not anti-Israel,” she said. “We are not for the destruction of America’s closest ally and the only democratic nation in the Middle East.”
Protesters are not the only ones who have been preparing for months. The Chicago Police Department has been getting ready as well, training their officers in the event riots and fighting break out between the opposing groups.
The DNC said it is grateful for ongoing efforts to protect peaceful protests in the Windy City.
