By Ayse Betul Akcesme
CHICAGO (AA) - Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered Thursday, the final day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, to demand an end to US support for Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
As delegates were gathering for the convention, where Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the Democratic nomination for the presidency, tens of thousands of people have expressed support for Palestine since the beginning of the convention on Monday.
Demonstrators began their march at Union Park, a few blocks from the United Center, where the four-day event is being held.
They 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!"
One of the protesters, Mohamed Maarouf, told Anadolu that he is in Chicago to support his Palestinian brothers and sisters in their struggle for freedom and a Palestinian state.
"Stop sending weapons to Israel. Seize all funding of this genocide. Start a weapons embargo," Maarouf said, referring to the Biden-Harris administration.
Another protester, Grace Kan, said she will vote for the Democrats.
"But we want them to remember that we are going to hold them accountable...We don't support Israel in Gaza right now," she added.
Chicago has seen protests since earlier in the week, including one demonstration in front of the Israeli Consulate, where dozens of people, including journalists, were arrested by the police.
Chicago police said Thursday that they are “ready” for the final day of protests.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the protest Wednesday night ended without arrests and that no one was injured, according to local media.
“Did we have a couple dustups? Sure, but those things were quickly rectified,” Snelling was quoted as saying.
Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip 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.
*Diyar Guldogan from Washington, D.C. contributed to this report