In Union Park, volunteers are seen meandering, proffering water and sunscreen to demonstrators convening on Monday. This initiates a week of protests anticipated at the Democratic convention. The park in downtown Chicago is recognised for its close ties to union and workers’ associations. One notable installation includes the James Connolly statue, established in 2006 by the Irish American Labor of Chicago.
At Monday’s midday protests, over 200 interest groups participated, but the cause of Palestine was noticeably dominant, present in signs, threads of dialogue, and attire, amidst the clear, sunny day. Kathy Shihadah, a native Chicagoan whose spouse is Palestinian, was spotted on the park’s periphery, distributing pamphlets. Her husband, a Palestinian native, hails from the Gaza Strip, with several relatives enduring the struggles of bombings and blockades in Gaza.
Shihadah’s passion is for an end to violence and ammunition aid to Israel. She states her willingness to support Kamala Harris, but only if Harris’s support for their cause is apparent. For her and many others, Joe Biden has been instrumental in assisting Israel. Harris is urged to promise support for a ceasefire and an arms embargo.
This summary signifies a crucial aspect of the Democrats’ tactically revised campaign. Across American colleges in the spring, the campaigns in favour of Palestine and ceasefire have stemmed from a disillusionment with Biden’s hesitancy to demand an immediate stop to the unceasing bombing in Gaza. This week, long signalled as a potential meeting point for Palestinian supporters, has Biden’s image and reputation at its centre. However, the main concern is his successor’s course of action.
Chicago’s prosperous history of progressive activism, combined with the collective memory of the unrest between law enforcement and demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic convention, results in extra efforts to ensure a peaceful protest this week. Daniel Smith, a Kalamazoo resident, was among Monday’s attendees. Unconcerned about any potential discord, he observed the rather mild police presence as more demonstrators kept coming.
Seeing unsettling images of children in disaster-struck areas on my mobile phone each day makes me feel responsible, as a taxpayer, to do something about it,” he mentions. Particularly in Michigan, the Muslim communities were persistence and successful in making the Democratic Party aware of the crisis in Gaza. Smith, however, believes that, for a lot of Michigan inhabitants, domestic issues might take precedence over this.
“People tend to avoid it because the issue is distant and not adequately covered in the media. Daily activities are what most people concern themselves with. But when we stand on a corner holding our signs, there is significant support – honking of horns and enthusiastic thumbs-ups. Shaping pro-Palestinian voters’ opinion in Michigan and other swing states is crucial for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s campaign.
Gabriel Miller, a young Minnesotan who journeyed to Chicago alongside a group of fellow youth, is a part of the anti-war effort in his state. Long before his appointment as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, they have been urging governor Walz to intervene. “We have been asking Tim Walz for some time now to pull our state board investments out of Israel. He chairs the Minnesota state board of investment. We have been pushing for a removal of financial backing to Israel similar to how they did with South Africa and the tobacco industry. Their claim of inability seems contrary to past examples.
“This leads me to believe that Tim Walz doesn’t consider his constituents’ voices and fails to side with the Palestinian people who have the right to self-rule and the right not to live under the current genocide by Israel,” says Miller. He intends to monitor this week’s speeches closely, looking for a change in Biden’s seemingly endless tolerance towards Israel. However, he’s doubtful about the prospects of any profound change. “It would take substantial modifications within the Democratic party as an institution for everyone to have faith. We have come across too many broken promises. Generally, I feel a number of people here believe they have been individually let down by the party, something they didn’t sign up for. No matter what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz say this week, actions will be the actual evidence,” he adds.
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