8 months ago
70
More than 1,000
pro-Palestinian protesters
rallied in Union Park on Wednesday evening, just half a mile from a
pro-Israel demonstration
near the United Center, marking the third night of the
Democratic National Convention
. This comes in the wake of violent
clashes
the previous night, resulting in 56
arrests
.
A heavy
police presence
escorted pro-Israel demonstrators out of the park, while pro-Palestinian protesters, including families from
Chicago
's southwest suburbs, gathered to express their views.
The crowd chanted, "The whole world is watching," as they marched peacefully.
Raed Shuk, a 48-year-old protester, brought his children to the rally, emphasizing the importance of
peaceful protest
and standing up for rights. "This is about teaching my children to address humanity equally," Shuk was quoted as saying by AP.
Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate, attended the rally and criticized the police's handling of the protests. "This is an absolute intimidation of the American people to silence our protest," Stein said, denouncing the use of force.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling defended the police response, explaining that Tuesday night's arrests were due to protesters intending to commit
violence
and vandalism. He commended his officers for maintaining control despite facing aggressive behavior from the crowd. "We wanted to overwhelm those people who decided to come to our city and destroy it," Snelling said, denying accusations of excessive force.
The protests, part of a series of demonstrations related to the ongoing
Israel-Hamas conflict
, have been a regular occurrence at the Israeli Consulate since October. Wednesday's rallies, while mostly peaceful, highlighted the deep divisions and intense emotions surrounding the issue.
Wednesday's rallies saw a substantial police presence as officers tried to manage the protests. Despite efforts to maintain peace, minor injuries and several arrests underscored the tense atmosphere.
The most significant protest to date, attracting around 3,500 people on Monday, remained relatively peaceful with only 13 arrests related to a security breach. Similarly, Sunday's march resulted in just two arrests.
English (US)