On Sunday, approximately 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in downtown Chicago, chanting, “Shut down the DNC.” President Biden is scheduled to speak Monday, while Harris will speak Thursday. The group argues that pro-Palestinian voices should have a larger role in shaping the party platform, especially in relation to military aid restrictions and the Gaza conflict.
The Democratic platform, released in July, calls for a ceasefire but does not address the thousands of Palestinians killed in the Israeli offensive or suggest limiting U.S. arms sales to Israel. Pro-Palestinian activists argue that these omissions undermine the party’s commitment to human rights, and they are demanding a stronger stance from Harris, despite her previous expressions of sympathy for Gaza’s plight. Outside the convention, organizers expect as many as 100,000 protesters to gather in opposition to the Biden administration’s stance on Israel. Though the pro-Palestinian group represents a minority of delegates, their actions, alongside large protests, have the potential to disrupt the convention’s proceedings and challenge the party’s attempt at unity.
