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Pro-Palestinian protests in Chicago reached a boiling point on Tuesday night as dozens of demonstrators confronted police outside the Israeli consulate. The tense standoff occurred just two days after the start of the Democratic National Convention in the city.
Chants of “Let them go!” filled the air as police arrested at least four protesters. The demonstrators were penned in by officers wielding wooden clubs, preventing them from marching. In a defiant act, some protesters set a U.S. flag on fire in the street, while others carried Palestinian flags and covered their faces.
Pro-Palestinian Protests Demonstrators Clash with Police Outside Israeli Consulate
As the protest intensified, police ordered the demonstrators to disperse. However, the protesters refused, with some shouting back, “We’re not scared of you.” The group, which is not affiliated with the larger coalition of pro-Palestinian organizations, has been calling for an end to U.S. support for Israel.
The confrontations outside the Israeli consulate mark a stark contrast to the peaceful protests that took place earlier in the week. Thousands of Pro-Palestinian Protests activists marched near the convention site on Monday, calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The recent protests have drawn both support and condemnation. Some individuals and organizations have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause, while others have criticized the demonstrators for their actions. Israeli-American Council CEO Elan Carr has denounced the protesters as “fringe crazies” and called for stronger U.S. support for Israel.
As the Democratic National Convention continues, it remains to be seen whether the pro-Palestinian protests will escalate further or if tensions will de-escalate.
Amid Democratic National Convention
On Tuesday night, pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with Chicago police outside the city’s Israeli consulate, located about two miles from the venue of the Democratic National Convention. At least a dozen demonstrators were detained during the protest, which marked the third consecutive day of pro-Palestinian activism surrounding the convention.
Hundreds had marched downtown on Sunday night, and Monday saw a large protest march with thousands participating, though the turnout was lower than organizers anticipated.
During Tuesday’s protest, demonstrators chanted and delivered speeches as lines of police officers stood guard, blocking access to the office tower housing the consulate. Some protesters were taken into custody following a brief skirmish, and while tensions occasionally rose, the number of journalists and police officers exceeded that of the protesters.
Shawna Ohm, a Chicago resident and one of the protesters, expressed that it appeared many Democratic leaders were intentionally avoiding addressing the war in Gaza. She shared that although she had previously voted for Democratic presidential candidates, she felt conflicted about this election.
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