Protesters demand action from VP Harris on war in Gaza during downtown march, rally in Grant Park
Traffic sat at a standstill for most of the evening on Michigan Avenue, with spectators on sidewalks taking in the scene of the first permitted protest in Chicago on Sunday amid preparations for the Democratic National Convention.
It was a protest that lasted more than 3.5 hours as ABC7 saw the massive crowd take over the Loop. It remained peaceful as they marched to Grant park. Protesters used the march as an opportunity to send a message on the eve of the DNC. They said it's time for less talking and more action from their politicians.
Several different activist groups came together as a united front, demanding action on reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights and an end to the Israel-Hamas war.
"When we talk about justice, we're talking about justice for everybody and we're talking about real actions for everybody, and not just, you know, some empty words here and there, but policy, material reality and not ideologies," said Nour Odeh with Code Pink.
The downtown protest was called the March for Bodies Outside Unjust Laws. Demonstrators said they were protesting the Democratic Party's failure to live up to its rhetoric in favor of reproductive and LGBTQ rights. They rallied along with those calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
"There's so many aspects to be able to raise children and to decide not to have children that the Democrats could do a lot better on," said Anne Rumberger with Chicago for Abortion Rights and Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws.
Pro-Palestinian voices both inside and outside the Democratic National Convention plan to make sure their complaints are heard at this week's gathering in Chicago. In addition to the tens of thousands who plan to protest near the site, 30 delegates elected to represent the "uncommitted" movement will be inside the convention advocating an anti-war agenda. They will not endorse Harris without assurances that her administration will embrace an arms embargo on Israel.
"She's not going to take a legitimate stance, so until we can have Kamala Harris actually come to the table and make a legitimate concession actually make a legitimate push to get the Arab and Muslim vote, you can't just say appreciate things and high level abstracts in order to get our vote," a pro-Palestinian protester named Nael said.
