Protests threaten to overshadow DNC

Tens of thousands of activists are expected to protest in Chicago this week, threatening to overshadow the Democratic National Convention as the party looks to rally around its newly minted presidential ticket.

Many of the protesters will be there to voice anger over the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. In recent days, they have started to turn their attention to Vice President Harris, the new Democratic presidential nominee, interrupting her at multiple rallies.

The large number of demonstrators anticipated in the city has already evoked comparisons to the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which was also held in Chicago and saw large numbers of protesters clash with police.

Chicago political operative Victor Reyes suggested if the protesters this week “are hell bent on creating chaos and getting arrests and disrupting it and creating mayhem, if they’re intent on that, and some are, then it could overshadow the actual convention.”

Democrats are eager to gather in the Windy City as they celebrate the nomination of Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), following President Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race after his disastrous debate performance against former President Trump. The party was quick to coalesce around Harris and Walz, and the pair has garnered support from both progressives and the more moderate wing of the party.