The pro-Palestinian rally scheduled for Monday got off to an underwhelming start.
Hundreds of signs meant for protesters marching on the Democratic National Convention in Chicago were left piled on the ground, as organizers appeared to have greatly overestimated attendance for the main rally scheduled for the convention’s opening day.
While the Chicago Police Department did arrest a handful of protesters after a segment of the security perimeter was breached, it was understood that organizers planned for over 30,000 people. It appeared only a few thousand showed up at Union Park.
Those behind the protest were seeking to highlight the divisions within the party over the Biden administration’s support of Israel in its ongoing war in Gaza, as well as other issues.
Speeches throughout the afternoon, in the lead up to the convention’s first night, included calls for the U.S. to stop sending financial aid to Israel and reflections on protests that took over some college campuses in the spring.
