BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Inside the March on DNC headquarters ahead of convention

  • 30,000 protesters are expected to protest the DNC
  • They are demanding the U.S. stop supporting Israel
  • There are fears of clashes with pro-Israel counter-protesters

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

ovp test

mLife Diagnostics LLC: Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Male shot by female at Shreveport apartment

Class to create biodiverse backyard

Rules for outbursts at Caddo School Board Meeting

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

(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.

2024 Election

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Clear

la

50°F Clear Feels like 50°
Wind
1 mph W
Humidity
54%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
46°F Clear skies. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
6 mph NNW
Precip
0%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous