Fiery anti-Israel protests got underway Sunday on the eve of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, with demonstrators disrupting a delegate party and one warning, “Welcome to hell week.”
Protesters couldn’t wait to confront prominent Democrats over the war in Gaza as hundreds flooded the streets and vowed to “bring the war home,” according to footage across social media.
Demonstrations are expected to happen throughout the week as national Dems celebrate the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, 60.
At one point, protesters targeted a delegate party at Navy Pier where one rabble-rouser reached the stage, grabbed the microphone and accused the crowd of “funding a genocide,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“The Harris-Biden administration keeps sending money to Israel,” the protester said before getting dragged off stage, according to a video posted by an anti-Israel group. “Free Palestine!”
Others rallied outside the event and reportedly warned of a “week of justice.”
One organizer, who only gave her name as Jinan, said disruptors were there to confront the Democratic Party over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
“Welcome to hell week,” she said, according to the Sun-Times.
“DNC go home,” demonstrators waving Palestinian flags chanted, according to a reporter for the Blaze. “Or we’re gonna bring the war home.”
Others that joined protests on Sunday also called for stronger abortion and LGBTG rights, according to reports.
“She’s not going to take a legitimate stance, so until we can have Kamala Harris actually come to the table and make a legitimate concession actually make a legitimate push to get the Arab and Muslim vote,” said protester Nael, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
“You can’t just say appreciate things and high-level abstracts in order to get our vote.”
Images captured by a Chicago Sun-Times reporter showed dozens of Chicago cops on bikes standing nearby and other police officers guarding the monument of John Logan, who was a general in the Union Army during the Civil War and then was a US Senator for Illinois.
As the protest wrapped up Sunday night, some protesters chanted, “From the river to the sea,” per the Sun-Times reporter — which the Anti-Defamation League labels as a call for the destruction of Israel.
Massive protests are expected to continue Monday at Union Park in the Windy City as the convention opens up about 10 minutes away.
