Pro-Palestinian protesters have breached through a police barrier erected outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
A number of protesters scrambled to gain access to the event ahead of President Joe Biden’s speech.
Thousands of flag-waving pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in the Windy City on Monday in a show of force against his administration's support for Israel in the Gaza war.
Despite the ferocity of those attempting to breach the area, reports suggest the “March on the DNC” group drew fewer supporters than expected.
Pro-Palestinian protesters break through police barrier at Democratic National Convention
REUTERS
Organizers expected tens of thousands of protesters to attend, Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesman for the group said on Monday morning.
Despite several thousand protesters arriving by the afternoon, their numbers were fewer than expected and the park was only half-full.
The coalition of more than 200 groups includes those advocating for a variety of causes from reproductive rights to racial justice. Many people were coming from Palestinian and Arab communities in Illinois and neighbouring states, organizers said last week.
One protester at the event said they were doubtful the party would change its stance on Gaza.
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Man waves Palestinian flag outside Democratic National Convention
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“It'll never happen,” said Mwalimu Sundiata Keita, “It's the policy of the party to support Israel, and until that policy changes, that's the way it's going to be.”
Senan Shaqdeh, 54, a member of the executive committee of the Palestinian American Organizations Network, said additional buses from as far away as Florida were expected to deliver more protesters to the site of the march throughout the day.
“The Democratic Party should not expect business as usual,” Shaqdeh said.
March on DNC spokesman Abudayyeh said the group has its own security and he did not anticipate violence from the protesters amid the heavy police and US Secret Service presence around the security perimeter.
Several thousand pro-Protesters gathered in the park near the Democratic National Convention
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“We don't need them to keep us safe. We don't need them to protect us, just not to infringe on our rights,” Abudayyeh said Monday morning.
At the event, Democratic delegates will nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as their candidate to face Republican Donald Trump in November's presidential election.
President Joe Biden, who was forced to abandon his reelection bid, arrived in Chicago on Monday to urge fellow Democrats to unite behind Vice President Kamala Harris in the fight for the White House against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Biden's appearance to start the four-day event will serve as a symbolic passing of the torch to his No2 after he quit the race under pressure from top Democrats worried that the 81-year-old incumbent was too old to win or serve another four years.
Harris will formally accept the nomination on Thursday night with a highly anticipated speech. If elected on November 5, Harris would make US history as the first female president.