2 arrested during protests related to Democratic convention
Two people were arrested Sunday during protests ahead of this week’s Democratic National Convention, the Chicago Police Department said Monday.
A 23-year-old woman was arrested and charged with criminal defacement of property and resisting/obstructing a peace officer, police confirmed to The Hill. A 28-year-old man was also taken into custody on charges of criminal damage and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.
Police said the woman was seen defacing a business at the 100 block of East Wacker Drive in Chicago. She was quickly located at the 600 block of South Wabash Avenue in Chicago and placed under arrest, authorities added. During the arrest, the male suspect allegedly attempted to intervene and damaged police bicycles, prompting his arrest at the same location.
The charges are misdemeanors.
No further information about the protesters was released, including the activist group with which they are associated.
The first permitted demonstration kicked off Sunday afternoon as political figures and delegates began arriving to Chicago ahead of the convention, which runs Monday through Thursday.
The march for “Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws” was organized by a national coalition of activist groups advocating for “bodily autonomy” — on issues ranging from abortion access, LGBTQ rights and safeguarding Palestinian lives in Gaza.
The demonstrations from the coalition are expected to take place each day of the convention, and organizers predicted bigger crowds than the protests held near the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month, The Associated Press reported.
The largest group, the Coalition to March on the DNC, has demonstrations planned on the first and last days of the convention, and organizers say they expect at least 20,000 activists, including students protesting the war.
An estimated 50,000 people are expected to be in Chicago for the convention, among delegates, politicians, activists and journalists, the news service reported. Local officials are working with Secret Service and police for safety precautions.
Illinois authorities and leaders have said people who vandalize the city or are violent will be arrested.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently told the AP that authorities will make sure people who vandalize the city or who engage in violence will be arrested.
“We’re going to make sure that people have their First Amendment rights protected, that they can do that in a safe way,” he said.
The protests are largely expected to focus on the anger over the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Demonstrators have begun turning their attention to Vice President Harris, the new Democratic presidential nominee, interrupting her at multiple rallies.
The large numbers of demonstrators expected in Chicago quickly drew comparisons to the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which was also held in Chicago and saw large numbers of protesters clash with police.
Sarah Fortinsky contributed.
Updated at 2:31 p.m. EDT.
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