They are carrying flags, holding up placards, and wrapping themselves in Palestinian scarves. Many are students, but there are also families with children and elderly people. On the first day of the convention, a dozen of them broke through a barricade at the party meeting's periphery, and several were arrested. And on the second day, over 60 people were reportedly arrested at Israel's consulate in Chicago.
Further protests are planned.
I want to remind everyone who comes here what's important, about the war in Palestine, says activist Patrick Fay, who has traveled to Chicago from Pennsylvania and is now standing at one of the convention's entrances.
The delegates are selfish, they should listen to the young people's concerns.
Voted Blank
His friend, who wants to remain anonymous, nods.
It's appalling and inhumane, he says about the Gaza war.
The two have parked themselves in the crowd at the convention's eastern entrance, where excited Democrats in cowboy hats and flag decorations are pushing against the security screening. From the sidewalk, they emphasize the importance of an immediate ceasefire and argue for an arms embargo against Israel.
Like many Gaza demonstrators, Fay and his friend see themselves as part of the grassroots movement Uncommitted (in Swedish, roughly "The Unbound") that has gained ground in the USA over the past few months. It gained momentum during the primaries in, among other places, Michigan, where tens of thousands of Democratic voters actively struck President Biden's name and in principle voted Democratic blank in protest against the White House's support for Israel.
Democratic strategists hope that the reservations will not expand to Harris in the actual presidential election. But the risk is great since she is Biden's vice president. Patrick Fay says he is more Kamala Harris-friendly than many. He believes that the situation in Gaza would become even worse with Donald Trump as president.
“Will be tough”
Another who is also thinking about how to vote in November is activist "G" from Minnesota, who is standing a bit further away. He does not think the USA has anything to do in the Middle East and says that many in his home state think the same.
In the primaries, I voted blank, but now it's going to be tough to decide. Very tough, he says, lifting a placard with the text "Victory for the Palestinian resistance".
Carolyn Antonucci from Connecticut, who is demonstrating on the other side of the street, has a different perspective.
I can't see more pictures of the children in Gaza. They are not terrorists, she emphasizes.
President Joe Biden gave the Gaza activists partial credit when he held his farewell speech on Monday.
The demonstrators out on the street, they have a point. Many innocent people are being killed – on both sides, said the president.
