Protesters outside Democratic convention focus on Kamala
Protesters have rallied outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in the US on its opening day, saying they are determined to voice their opposition to the war in Gaza and other issues.
“We have to play our part in the belly of the beast to stop the genocide, to end US aid to Israel and stand with Palestine,” Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC, told The Associated Press.
Organisers said they hoped the turnout for the march and rally in Chicago would be at least 20,000.
Protesters said their plans have not changed since President Joe Biden left the presidential race and the party quickly rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris, who will formally accept the Democratic nomination this week.
Taylor Cook, an organiser with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, traveled from Atlanta for the march. Cook said the group was pushing all Democrats to call for an end to aid to Israel with a particular focus on Harris.
“We’re saying to Kamala, she has been complicit in this. People think it’s just Biden, but she is vice president,” Cook said. “So we’re saying, you need to stop if you want our vote.”
Palestine supporters protest on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago: Largest city with Gaza ceasefire resolution
The thousands of demonstrators outside the Democratic National Convention site are only the latest push in Chicago to protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. Chicago has the distinction of being the largest city in the US to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the conflict.
Only Los Angeles and New York have larger populations.
The Chicago ceasefire resolution, however, passed by a tight margin in February. The city council was evenly split over the issue, with progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson casting the tie-breaking vote.
Thousands of protesters gathered near the convention at Union Park in Chicago
The protesters hope to encourage the Democratic Party to halt its support for Israel’s war in Gaza and push for a ceasefire
Captives’ families want Blinken to push Netanyahu for a deal
Family members of Israeli captives held in Gaza have staged a protest outside a Tel Aviv hotel where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was holding meetings as part of a trip aimed at facilitating a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Protesters blocking the road waved US and Israeli flags and chanted “SOS USA”. Meanwhile, inside the hotel, Blinken met with families of captives who hold US citizenship.
Supporters of captives demand their release during a protest outside a press event attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 19
