The chants of pro-Palestinian supporters who demanded that the Democratic Party do more for ending the war in Gaza, greeted the delegates as they left the convention center after the end of the party's National Conference in Chicago, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
The group chanted “Cease fire now” and “Shame on you” as a woman crumples a Kamala Harris and Tim Walz campaign poster over her head.
„Anyone who speaks out must save lives. This is an opportunity, a short time of opportunity,” said David Peterson, 50, who said he wanted to express his support for the Palestinians during the convention.
Protesters sought to draw attention to the lack of Palestinian voices on the convention stage. But the protests in the final hours of the event ended as they began earlier this week – peacefully and without major excesses, AP notes.
Only a few dozen protesters remained near the convention site late last night, briefly clashing with police. The small group planned to march toward the convention center but were blocked by police in riot gear. Several of the protesters rushed forward, waving wooden signs at the police.
An activist waving a large black flag in a busy street was arrested. Shortly after, the organizers of the demonstration called on the rest of the protesters to go home.
The rally was organized by the Coalition to March Against the Democratic Party Convention, a group of more than 200 organizations that held a similar event on Monday night.
On Wednesday evening, more than 2,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched peacefully past the convention center where pro-Israel demonstrators had gathered earlier in the day. That demonstration came a day after violent clashes between police and protesters led to 56 arrests at a much smaller, unregulated protest outside the Israeli consulate in downtown Chicago.