74 arrested at Democratic National Convention in Chicago

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - A total of 74 people were arrested during pro-Palestinian protests in Chicago, Illinois, police said on Friday.

Four-day Democratic National Convention started on Monday at the United Center, where Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepted the Democratic Party's presidential nomination late Thursday.

Chicago saw protests since earlier this week, including one demonstration in front of the Israeli Consulate, where thousands of people expressed support for Palestine to demand an end to US support for Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

"As a result of everything that occurred out there, there were a total of 74 arrests that were around protest situations," Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling told reporters, along with Mayor Brandon Johnson.

He added four people went to a hospital for "medication problems."

"We had a few officers who were injured, and those officers refused medical attention because they did not want to leave their fellow officers out there alone. They wanted to stay with their fellow officers to make sure that they were safe. So as a result, with no one being injured, no one being hurt," he added.

Johnson, for his part, said the 2024 Convention will go down "as the example of constitutional policing."

"These brave women and men show the world how we can maintain safety while protecting the people's right to protest and to have their voices heard," he added.

Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans like "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea!"

The protesters also held signs saying “End US Aid to Israel", "Biden, Harris You Will See! Palestine Will Be Free!" and "Free Palestine Now!"

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in over 40,200 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and nearly 93,000 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.