CHICAGO — Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated on the west side of Chicago and marched through the streets on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.
They protested in the streets as Vice President Kamala Harris delivered an acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination and promised to unite the country.
“I know there are people of various political views watching tonight. And I want you to know: I promise to be a President for all Americans,” Ms. Harris said on stage in the United Center.
Outside, the protesters and their allies at the convention said they were snubbed when the DNC refused to put a pro-Palestinian speaker on stage to share their views on U.S. policy towards Israel.
They called Ms. Harris a “war criminal” who supported genocide in Gaza.
Several protesters told The Washington Times that Ms. Harris will lose to former President Donald Trump because she supports Israel.
“The Trumpists are going to win. I’ve thought that for a long time. Right now, there’s a flurry of optimism in formal Democratic circles and in liberal circles,” said a 67-year-old man who identified himself as Albert from Philadelphia.
As the protesters marched to the United Center, they chanted: “Killer Kamala you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” and “One, two, three, four — occupation no more. Five, six, seven, eight — Israel is a terrorist state.”
They waved Palestinian flags, wore keffiyehs and carried signs that read “Stand with Palestine. End U.S. aid to Israel” and “Victory to the Palestinian resistance” and “Both Republicans and Democrats have blood on their hands.”
Other signs said “To exist is to resist”
When the protesters, who were organized by the umbrella group Coalition to March on the DNC, gathered at Union Park to begin the march, some protesters got into a shouting match with counter-protesters carrying American flags.
Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy arrived at the park with a small group of supporters. He engaged a throng of anti-Israel demonstrators and press who peppered him with questions.
“I think that there’s actually a lot of people who may want to engage in thoughtful dissent, but the majority of what it’s become ends up evolving into a thoughtless quasi-physical exercise,” Mr. Ramaswamy told reporters.
Safety marshals were deployed to de-escalate potentially tense situations earlier in the march.
“We do not work with police. We don’t need their safety,” March on the DNC organizer Hatem Abudayyeh said.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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