CHICAGO — Anti-Israel protesters faced off against law enforcement for a second night during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, this time at the Israeli Consulate.
Police on live video could be seen arresting demonstrators and taking them into custody around 7:40 p.m. near the Accenture Tower, the building where the consulate is located.
Protesters burned the American flag and spray-painted anarchist symbols on private property.
When an officer said into a megaphone, “You are ordered to immediately disperse,” a woman at the front of the march shouted back with her own megaphone: “We’re not scared of you.”
The demonstrators were not affiliated with the coalition of more than 200 groups that organized Monday’s protests and advertised Tuesday’s protest under the slogan of “Make it great like ’68,” referencing the anti-Vietnam War protests Chicago faced during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
Counterprotesters were reportedly on the scene waving Israeli flags. At least 72 demonstrators were arrested.
Police are ramping up for more demonstrations throughout the week as protestors from around the country descended on the Windy City this week to protest the Biden-Harris administration’s support of Israel in its war in Gaza.
March on the DNC organizers have scheduled and unscheduled demonstrations intended to keep convention and city officials on their toes.
Thousands of protesters swarming the streets outside the Democratic National Convention and chanting “Killer Kamala” dashed any hope that the party’s anti-Israel wing would be mollified by having Vice President Kamala Harris replace President Biden atop the ticket.
Nearly 20,000 people joined the demonstration Monday at Union Park, near the convention site in United Center, according to Coalition to March on the DNC.
The city had a heavy police presence. Security measures included barricaded streets and police helicopters circling overhead. As the convention was starting, some protesters tried to breach metal fencing at the security perimeter around the United Center.
Chicago police are out in force, and their ranks have been swelled by as many as 500 officers from other jurisdictions who were brought in for the week.
A federal judge previously denied organizers’ motion to use a longer parade route that would have brought protesters closer to the United Center.
• This article was based in part on wire service reports.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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