Protesters March in Opposition to War in Gaza on Final Day of Democratic Convention

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered downtown for the final day of the Democratic National Convention to call for the U.S. to end military support for Israel and its continuing assault on Gaza.

The event began at Union Park, on Chicago’s Near West Side, where speeches were given to the crowd before they began the half-mile march to the United Center.

March On The DNC, the organization who planned the demonstrations, said they hope the U.S. will stop the flow of money and aid to Israel and instead use those funds to support things such as public schools, reproductive healthcare, the LGBTQ community and immigrant rights. 

“When it comes to Biden, Harris, the Democrats and anyone that opposes our demands, we know where they stand morally,” a speaker at the protest said to the crowd. “Supporting war massacres — and are complicit in genocide.”

Demonstrators repeatedly emphasized their disappointment in the Democratic Party for it’s continued support and aid to Israel, including but not limited to Joe Biden whom they nicknamed “Genocide Joe” and Kamala Harris whom they called “Killer Kamala.”

The State Department announced Aug. 14 the approval of an additional $20 billion in weapon sales to Israel, according to the Associated Press. These weapons aren’t expected to become accessible to Israel until 2026, and the aid is intended for long term military capabilities.

The assault on Gaza has been ongoing for 11 months. The death toll surpassed 40,000 people, including more than 10,000 children, as of Aug. 15, according to the AP. 59% of the buildings in Gaza have been destroyed. 

Dr. Tammy Abughnaim, an emergency physician based in Chicago, who’s visited Gaza twice in the last six months, spoke during a press conference about her experience providing medical aid in the area of Palestine devastated by Israel’s military actions during a press conference.

Abughnaim said she’s one of the few humanitarian aid workers permitted within the borders of Gaza, and she only returned to Chicago a couple of days before the end of the DNC. 

“I have had a front row seat into the violence that Israel is enacting over thousands of civilians in Gaza,” Abughnaim said. “I specifically want to mention the crime that I have seen. Crimes against children. Crimes against civilians.” 

Abughnaim shared the stories of three patients in specific. She said she treated 19-month-old girl who was shot in the leg while she was playing outside of her family’s tent, a pre-teen boy who was shot through the left side of his chest and a 19-year-old male who sustained a shot to the right side of his chest after being used as a human shield by the Israeli Army. 

Abughnaim said all of these injuries were the result of a single shot, which proved to her that the wounds were deliberate and targeted by the IDF. 

“There is no safe zone in Gaza,” Abughnaim said. “It is obvious and it is clear and it has been clear for the last 10 months that Israel is using U.S. made weapons to target civilians.”

Diesel Armstrong, a 21-year-old demonstrator, said he felt the need to attend the event as a way to show his support for the people affected by the war in Gaza. He said he would love to see a world where the U.S. stops funding Israel.

“I think we need to absolutely cut ties with them,” Armstrong said. “We need to let the Palestinians have their land. For them to be able to exist and for Israel to be able to exist and just be separate, and to stop the merciless killing of the Palestinian people. To see such loss of life on such a big scale is terrible and I think that needs to end.”

Younger people are an important part of keeping movements like this going, according to Armstrong. 

“Young people play a huge role, mostly because we have a lot of energy,” Armstrong said. “I think we’re the next generation, we’re the next ones going into office, going into those positions. So I think it’s important that we get out here and make our voice known and try to make changes that we want to see not only for us but for the generations ahead.”

While gathering in Union Park, some counter-protesters shared a variety of opposing messages, including some in support of U.S. involvement in Israel.

Armstrong said he isn’t yet sure what role participating in the DNC protests will play in his decision on who to vote for, but he thinks it’s important to emphasize the importance of voting no matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on. 

“It’s a very important issue and I get why it weighs heavily on a lot of people,” Armstrong said. “Go vote. Young people, please go vote. I don’t care who you vote for. It’s none of my business, but it’s your right that I think everyone should use so go vote.”

The largest in the string of protests took place Aug. 19, which marked the first day of the convention. Some protestors broke through the security barriers outside of the United Center where the convention is being hosted, and dozens of them were arrested, AP previously reported. 

This is a developing story, corresponding updates will be made when their are available.