Less than two weeks before protesters are expected to march on the Democratic National Convention, pro-Israel advocates gathered in Chicago to warn that demonstrations could lead to violence and “anti-American” acts, an allegation one pro-Palestinian group characterized as baseless fearmongering as the event approaches.
The Israel-Hamas war triggered by the Oct. 7 terror attack has led to tens of thousands of deaths and widespread destruction and starvation in Gaza, accusations of detainee abuse and ongoing fears of a wider war in the Middle East. Protesters around the country have heavily criticized the Biden administration’s response to the conflict and Democratic politicians’ support of Israel, including during a wave of unrest at college campuses across the country.
Protests have persisted nationally and here in Chicago, said David Goldenberg of the Anti-Defamation League, citing demonstrations in Washington D.C. at which flags were burned and landmarks defaced. Their fear, speakers said at a Thursday press conference at the Jewish United Fund, is that outside protesters would escalate an already tense convention environment and encourage violence against Jewish people.
“The same network of groups who organized, promoted and celebrated many of those dangerous protests are coming here to the DNC,” Goldenberg said.
Among the groups Goldenberg accused of overheated rhetoric was the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, which has been instrumental in organizing what is expected to be the most prominent protest march on the DNC.
In response, a USPCN representative called that “slander and fearmongering.”
“We’ve never called for violence, actually, against anyone,” Muhammad Sankari told the Tribune. “Yes, we have organized dozens of protests in Chicago … we’ve mobilized hundreds of thousands of people into the streets without incident. And so that, I think, speaks for itself.”
The phrase “anti-American” is just an “easy buzzword,” Sankari said.
“I would really be curious to understand what about being opposed to probably history’s first livestreamed genocide makes us quote-unquote anti-American or quote-unquote anti-Semitic,” he said.
The exchange between the groups served as a reminder that convention protests could still be substantial despite the Democratic ticket changing in recent weeks to feature Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate. The DNC is scheduled to be held in Chicago Aug. 19-22.
Also Thursday, Reuters and other news organizations reported that the U.S., along with Egypt and Qatar, called on Israel and Hamas to continue ceasefire discussions on Aug. 15.
In a video at Thursday’s press conference, the pro-Israel group highlighted recent protests and training sessions in Washington D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago as well as recent social media posts that showed the American flag and an effigy of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu being burned, vandalism of monuments, and an attendee holding up a mask of President Joe Biden made to look as if it were bloodied.
Troubling rhetoric they highlighted included chants of “Marg bar Âmrikâ” or “Marg bar Israel” which, depending on the translation, can mean “down with” or “death to” America and Israel. Goldenberg also said local Jewish elected officials, particularly U.S. Rep Brad Schneider, have been harassed in recent weeks.
But it would be wrong to conflate incidents of harassment with the broader protest movement, Sankari said.
“I would even go so far as to say any of those instances of individuals who attack people or harass people are not representative of the vast, vast majority of our movement,” he said.
Asked about accusations of fearmongering, Goldenberg said USPCN was “full of it,” and that protests that include flag and effigy burning are not “peaceful.”
Goldenberg said he discouraged any pro-Israel counter-protesters from engaging with any pro-Palestinian groups during the convention.
Other speakers Thursday, including Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th), focused on what they said would be “anti-American” outside agitators “who have infiltrated protests across the nation.”
“The legitimate right to assemble has been perverted by attempts to block highways and airports and American flags have been desecrated and burned, including right in front of Chicago City Hall,” she said. Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez was criticized for making a speech outside City Hall in front of a burnt American flag.
The speakers called on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County state’s attorney Kim Foxx to prosecute lawbreakers to the fullest extent, though noted that flag-burning is legal.
“Outside protesters coming to Chicago should know that there will be a zero tolerance policy for anyone crossing the line between protest and civil disobedience into violence, intimidation and mayhem,” said Alison Pure-Slovin, the Midwest region director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
In the convention’s runup, both Johnson and Chicago Police Department leadership pledged to ensure free speech rights are protected, but that officers would not tolerate violence, vandalism or property destruction. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office has a standing policy against prosecuting peaceful protesters, which notes that “individuals who intentionally cause harm or damage” will not be considered in the category of protesters.
The USPCN is among four groups that have been in protracted discussions with the city over a proposed protest route. Together they sued the city in federal court in an effort to secure protest routes within “sight and sound” of the convention.
A protest is planned as early as hours before the gavel drops to open day one of the convention.
Discussions about the route have apparently hit an impasse; protesters have said that the city’s proposed route onto side streets would cause logjams, while the city said protesters’ request to march along Washington Boulevard is untenable – it would take them through an intersection that is set to be blocked by a security checkpoint.
U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood is expected to issue a ruling on the matter.
Associated Press contributed.
