CHICAGO (CBS) — On Monday afternoon, protesters marched near the United Center to draw attention to the pro-Palestinian cause. Democratic National Convention starts in Chicago.
The City Hall-approved route the marchers took began in Union Park. It went south on Ashland Avenue, west on Washington Boulevard, north on Hermitage Avenue, and west on Maypole Avenue to Park 578, where many speeches were planned. It then went to Damen Avenue, north to Lake Street, and east back to Union Park, where more speeches were planned.
Before the march began, protesters demonstrated in Union Park for the rights of immigrants, minorities and women in the US. Ultimately, they want the US to stop sending weapons to Israel, end the war in Gaza and give Palestine self-determination.
Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesman for the Coalition to March on the DNC, said he doesn’t think the protesters will change everyone’s minds. But he does believe some people can be swayed.
“I don’t expect that we will meet our demands within four days, but I am saying that there is a possibility that there could be a shift,” Abudayyeh said. “One thing that could happen is that we hear something different than what we hear. [vice president] Kamala [Harris] than we have heard in previous months.”
Several coalition supporters also showed up who weren’t part of any organization, just wanted to be in Chicago to support the cause.
One man, Matthew Waterman, came from Washington DC to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
“The Democratic Party, Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have spent the last 10 months providing the weapons, funding, diplomatic cover and propaganda for a brutal genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza,” Waterman said.
Abudayyeh said he was impressed by the audience’s turnout and dedication.
“I love the diversity of the audience. I love the passion of the audience. I’m really excited about the show, having all these people from different communities dealing with all these different issues. I mean, how powerful is it — reproductive rights and women’s rights and labor rights and immigrant rights and black liberation?
“And they all go up on stage and talk about their issues, they talk about how the Democratic Party takes them for granted too, but they also say we’re here to liberate Palestine,” Abudayyeh said. “We’re here to say that American aid to Israel has to stop. We’re here to stop a war and stop a genocide. It’s beautiful. It’s powerful.”
Police bicycles were lined up along the march route before the protesters left, and members of the news media were asked to step onto the sidewalk to make way for the protesters. Just under 10,000 people were visible along the march route, and the protest remained peaceful as it reached Park 578.
