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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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Pro-Palestinian protests in Chicago began calmly Tuesday evening, but police soon stepped in to make dozens of arrests as the demonstrations turned violent.
Hundreds gathered outside Chicago's Israeli consulate as speeches got underway at the second day of the Democratic National Convention across town, about two miles away.
The main demand of the protest movement has been for the U.S. to withdraw its support for Israel in its war in Gaza, with a focus on President Biden and Vice President Harris' administration providing funding and arms.
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"Shut down the DNC" became a rallying call for protesters as they gathered outside the consulate and moved through the streets of the city's downtown.
At one point, a small group set fire to an Israeli-American mixed flag, before an American flag was placed on top. A nearby reporter then tried to stop the second flag burning.
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Chicago Police Department officers in riot gear called for protesters and the media to get out of the street at some points during the evening, while some cops stood in rows to keep attendees in place.
With shouts of "let them go!" coming from the protesters, police started making arrests. Lawyers stationed along the march could be heard calling out to those arrested to yell their names and dates of birth.
As the situation became more volatile, a Chicago PD officer was heard using a loudspeaker calling for people to leave the area.
"If you do not disperse, you will be placed into custody," the officer warned as one protester was restrained on the ground.
It was later reported that at least 67 people had been arrested, with some members of the press among them.
Mohammed Ismail, a 29-year-old psychiatry resident who lives in Chicago, described the police presence as "excessive," and questioned why the group had been blocked from marching. He said he joined the protest to urge Democrats to cease funding to Israel's war in Gaza.
"It's not right that we're sending our tax money to fund an ongoing slaughter, an ongoing genocide," Ismail said. "We're a part of this conflict because our money is paying for it."
The scene on Tuesday stood in contrast to the prior evening, when protests fizzled out early. Thirteen people were arrested during Monday's protests, most of them related to a "brief breach" of security fencing "within sight and sound of the United Center," the city's police superintendent said. By the time President Biden took the stage, the demonstrations had been all but abandoned.
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Israel supporters, including some relatives of the hostages kept by Hamas, gathered earlier in the day at a pro-Israel art installation not far from the consulate to call on U.S. leaders to continue backing Israel and pushing for the release of their loved ones. The art installation included giant milk cartons bearing photos of some of the hostages.
Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli-American Council, condemned the pro-Palestinian protesters who have descended on Chicago this week, calling them "fringe crazies" and demanding that U.S. leaders "stand unequivocally with the state of Israel."
More protests were planned throughout the week. However, attendance at the main rally on Monday was far below estimates of organizers, who had predicted more than 30,000 would show up. In the end, several thousand descended on the city — a strong showing but far short of expectations.
The Chicago Police Department has given few updates on its activity around the protests, telling Newsweek that Tuesday's actions would be discussed at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Follow Newsweek's live DNC updates here.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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