Chicago – Protests outside Democratic National Conventionis entering its second day, the number of demonstrations in Milwaukee was already large a month ago when former President Donald Trump accepted his party’s presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention. The war in Gaza is the biggest reason for the protestors to come out.
Although the Democratic Party officially accepts the two-state solution, according to the party platform released this weekprogressives within the party have long expressed frustration with President Joe Biden over the issue, arguing that he did not pressure Israel enough to end its attacks on Gaza in the 10 months since the October 7 attack.
Meanwhile, Trump has voiced many notable criticisms of Hamas. Last week, he said he would “deport pro-Hamas radicals” if elected and encouraged Israel to “finish the problem” of eliminating Hamas.
Vice President Kamala Harris said she supported the ceasefire, but Trump did not.
Still, Republicans didn’t face the same outrage at their convention, and the reason the Chicago protesters showed up here is instead to hold the party currently in power accountable.
Protesters said they were more than eager to attend the Democratic convention, which begins Monday, for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, it includes the belief of progressive protesters that a Harris-led ticket may have a more viable way to convince them to make meaningful policy changes regarding the war in Gaza. But many also expressed anger at the Democrats, who they believe are the current party more responsible for the war than the Republicans.
“I want to push the Democratic Party on a lot of issues,” said Jacob Smith, 32, a software engineer traveling from Detroit. Several thousand people joined the protest on Monday afternoon. He mentioned “stopping the genocide in Gaza” and achieving a “permanent ceasefire” among them.
He said he felt both sides were “equally beholden to special and corporate interests.”
“They’re both mostly right-wing parties right now,” he said, adding, “But generally the Democrats are a little bit better than the Republicans.”
Smith said he hasn’t decided who he wants to vote for and won’t suggest anyone, except “it won’t be Trump.”
Smith said he felt it was more important to challenge the Biden-Harris administration because “it’s an administration that is aiding and abetting an ongoing, visible genocide.”
“Now the country is ruled by democrats. This is happening under their control,” he said.
Smith said he hopes Democratic Party leaders will listen more to such protest efforts because “progressive voters are part of their base — maybe they’ll listen to us more than Republicans.”
Smith did not participate in any of the smaller protests at the RNC.
“Obviously it’s a good thing to protest Republican policies,” he said, “but it’s really realistic to expect policy change to happen that way.”
“It’s about efficiency in a lot of ways,” Smith said. “Where will your actions be most effective?”
Lauren Pineiro, 24, a restaurant worker from Florida, also joined the small protests at the Republican convention.
“I was happy to protest the racist reactionary agenda of Trump and this party. But I think the reason it’s smaller is because the Democrats are in power right now and they’re the ones who are overseeing this genocide.” “I think even though most people care about fighting against Trump’s agenda, people need to come here more.”
“Trump is a fascist and I would never vote for him, but the Democrats are the ones in power during this war,” said Fred Schein, 76, a lifelong Chicago resident.
He said that while this year’s protests focused on the war in Gaza, “they really covered a lot of issues,” citing reproductive rights, climate change and immigrant rights as a few examples.
Annie Weiler, 28, a marketing manager from Knoxville, Tennessee, said she hopes the protest efforts will help guide the Harris campaign not just in tone but in policy when it comes to the war in Gaza.
“Right now, Kamala Harris still has an opportunity to help stop funding this war,” he said.
“I’m a Democrat, but it’s hard to support Kamala Harris when she openly supports Israel in this conflict,” Weiler added.
Sean Parmelee, 36, took to the march on Monday with the caption, “We’re trying to help you, Kamala.”
He means it seriously.
“I vote for him — but a lot of people here don’t,” said Parmelee, a Chicago resident. “Honestly, he makes it very difficult for them.”
“Look at all that energy. If he wants, he can have them all,” he said.
Parmele said he was protesting because pushing for a cease-fire and an arms embargo on Israel was “the right thing to do.”
“And that’s the right strategy for Kamala Harris,” he said.
As Parmele spoke, a protester with a megaphone shouted into the crowd, “Harris, Harris, how many kids have you killed today?”
Sydney Loving, 29, a teacher from Dallas, said she protested at the Democratic convention instead of last month’s Republican convention because she sees the Biden administration as “the architects of the genocide in Gaza.”
“It’s a simple fact — they’re the ones in the office, writing the checks, sending the rockets and all that,” Loving said.
Mariana Espana, 17, a student in Chicago who was old enough to vote by Election Day, said she was here specifically to help Harris “move on a truce for Palestine” because “it’s such a tragedy to see these kids die.”
“I personally support Kamala. A Trump presidency would be a disaster. But I think it is important to push Kamala for a ceasefire.”
“I think it will help his campaign because it will help rally that wing of the party,” he said.