Pro-Palestinian Protesters March Ahead of DNC

A crowd of roughly 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Chicago, ahead of the start of the Democratic National Convention(DNC).

Chanting "Free Palestine" and "Shut down the DNC," the group marched around 2.4 km through the center of the city's downtown district.

Dozens of Muslim delegates and their allies, angry at U.S. support for Israel's offensive in Gaza, are seeking changes in the Democratic platform and plan to press for an arms embargo this week, putting the party on guard for disruptions to high-profile speeches at its convention.

Calling itself "Delegates Against Genocide," the pro-Palestinian group says it will exercise its freedom of speech rights during main events at the four-day Democratic National Convention convening to formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the Nov. 5 election against Republican former President Donald Trump.

Protesters carried Palestinian flags and signs reading slogans like "End the genocide in Gaza now" and "We support Gaza."

The Israel-Hamas war, now in its 11th month, reduced support for Democrats among Muslim and Arab-American voters, who represent crucial votes in election battleground states like Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Some 40,000 protesters are expected to gather outside the convention to demonstrate against the Biden administration's position on Israel.

The largest group, the Coalition to March on the DNC, has planned demonstrations on the first and last days of the convention.

Organizers say they expect at least 20,000 activists, including students who protested the war on college campuses.

Organizers say the number could swell to over 100,000.

Police lined the march route and there were no signs of major conflict. At one point, anti-abortion activists staged a small counter-protest.