Thousands of protesters expected at Chicago DNC

Crowds of protesters took to the streets of Chicago on Sunday before the start of the Democratic National Convention on Monday to demand more support for Palestinians in Gaza. March on the DNC 2024, a coalition of protest groups, told WORLD on Monday that it expected thousands of protesters would end up hitting the streets of Chicago this week. The coalition said it also supported the protesters Sunday night advocating for looser restrictions on abortion and more Democratic Party support for LGBTQ interests.

What sort of protest groups are expected to arrive in the city? Dozens of groups composing the coalition range from Black Lives Matter Chicago and Denver Communists to Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids and Central Florida Queers for Palestine, according to the coalition’s website.

What are these groups demanding? The coalition on its website listed several demands on various topics:

• Gaza: The U.S. must quit sending aid to Israel, March on the DNC said.

• Housing and Healthcare: March on the DNC demanded less government spending on war and more spending on housing, healthcare, schools, and the environment.

• Immigration: The government must provide legal recognition to all undocumented immigrants living in the United States, the March on the DNC said.

• LGBTQ ideology and abortion: The protesters accused the Democratic Party of failing to look after the interests of LGBTQ people.

• Law enforcement: The Democratic Party must put communities in control of police forces to stop what the group alleged to be racist policing in the United States, the group said.

Dig deeper: Read Bekah McCallum’s report in The Stew about how Vice President Kamala Harris is getting hip to court Gen Z voters.