CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Protests on the last night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Thursday ended much like they began earlier this week — largely peaceful with a family-friendly atmosphere.
However, the demonstrators’ message was clear: The election isn’t what’s important; the focus should be on an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and diverting funds from Israel.
“If Kamala Harris wins, we need to continue the quest for a cease-fire. If Trump wins, we have to do the same thing; we’re prepared for his attack on our rights,” said Sean Duffy, the co-chair of Chicago Democratic Socialists of America.
A large group of protesters again rallied in Union Park in Chicago, followed by a march near the United Center, where Vice President Kamala Harris gave her acceptance speech later in the night.
DNC protests end calmly
Only a few dozen protesters lingered late Thursday near Union Park, clashing briefly with police.
The small group had planned to march toward the convention center but was blocked by rows of police in riot gear who shouted “move back” as they pushed into the group. Several protesters surged forward, with some swinging wooden signs down on the officers.
Officers put handcuffs on one activist who was waving a flag on a busy street. Another officer rolled up the flag and took it away. Demonstration leaders soon instructed the remaining protesters to go home.
At Union Park ahead of the march, the grassy field teemed with Palestinian flags, and a speaker system played Palestinian dance songs. The gathering was organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC, a group of more than 200 organizations that also ran a similar event Monday night.
Delegate sit-in ends after 24 hours
A sit-in outside of the United Center ended just before the start of the convention Thursday, about 24 hours after a group of uncommitted delegates began demanding a Palestinian speaker be allowed to address the crowd from the convention’s main stage.
No Palestinian Americans were allowed to speak, causing protest organizers and Democratic lawmakers such as Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., to say party leaders were stifling their voices. They have pointed out that the Chicago area’s Palestinian community is among the largest in the country.
NewsNation correspondent Joe Khalil reported that a group of demonstrators told him they had been outside the United Center all night from Wednesday into Thursday. Some had signs with phrases such as “Not Another Bomb,” as well as ones urging for a U.S. arms embargo on Israel.
“We know the one thing that can most immediately release pressure and bring calm to the entire region: A deal that brings this diverse group of 109 hostages home and ends the suffering of the innocent civilians in Gaza,” Jon Polin said during a convention address Wednesday. His son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is one of those being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas.
The sit-in started after families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza spoke during Wednesday’s program. The group of delegates returned to the DNC on Thursday night where Harris said she’s fighting for an end to the war and a release of hostages.
“So many innocent lives lost, desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, over and over. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking. President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure the hostages are released,” Harris said.
The United Auto Workers union, which endorsed Harris, said, “We can’t put our heads in the sand or ignore the voices of Palestinian-Americans if we want the war in Gaza to end.”
Whether their message landed with delegates remains unclear, as people leaving the convention appeared to ignore protesters near the United Center, even as some shouted the names of children who died in Israel’s bombardment.
Over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the Israeli offensive launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in some 250 being taken hostage.
Asma Mohammed, an uncommitted delegate from Minnesota, said on “NewsNation Live” that there are 300 people who have pledged to vote for Harris who are now calling themselves “cease-fire delegates.”
“I think it’s important that we have enthusiasm around the candidate, but I also want to bring forward the fact that a majority of Democrats support a permanent and immediate cease-fire and end to the endless flow of weapons to Israel, because those bombs are killing Palestinian children and Palestinian families,” she said.
Protesters clash with police on Day 2
Other demonstrations during the week were largely peaceful, except for Tuesday when there were clashes between police and protesters that led to dozens of arrests.
“We’ve had multiple protests around the city, and I think these have gone well, not only because of the training of the Chicago Police Department and in conjunction with the Secret Service, but also the relationships that we have built with protesters throughout the city of Chicago,” Garien Gatewood, Chicago’s deputy mayor of community safety, said in an interview with NewsNation Thursday.
Larry Snelling, superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, said there were no arrests or injuries during Wednesday’s demonstrations.
NewsNation’s Nick Smith and The Associated Press contributed to this report.