CHICAGO (WLS) -- After four days of viral speeches, surprise guests, protests, street closures and security measures culminating in the nomination of Kamala Harris for president, the 2024 Democratic National Convention is over.
Chicago officials are celebrating a job well done. Thousands of protesters expressed their opinions peacefully and Chicago police made less than 100 arrests over four days.
Starting early Friday morning, the security barriers were being dismantled and streets were reopening. All areas around the United Center and McCormick Place will be open again by Monday, August 26.
Crews began to dismantle the fences and barricades around the United Center and McCormick Place early Friday now that the Chicago Democratic National Convention has ended.
Full security perimeter reopening timeline:
Thursday, August 22
6 p.m. Perimeter take-down set to begin.
Friday, August 23
3 p.m. All major intersections cleared. I-55 off-ramp will be open.
Sunday, August 25
6 a.m. - Cermak from Michigan to Indiana will be clear.
8 a.m. - All area open and 75% of assets cleared off curbs.
Monday, August 26
6 a.m. - 100% of assets removed - area completely reopened.
Friday, August 23
1 a.m. - Takedown to begin (subject to change)
Saturday, August 24
Noon - Damen, Wood, and Adams open (if possible)
Most major intersections cleared for traffic.
Sunday, August 25
11:59 p.m. - All areas open & 75% of assets cleared off curbs
Monday, August 26
11:59 p.m. - All assets removed, reopen complete.
As pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Union Park Thursday, some opposition groups were also seen.
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was spotted near Union Park Thursday, and a brief scuffle ensued when protesters confronted each other.
Organizers of Thursday's rally said they're trying to ignore opposing groups, and want to send a peaceful message.
Protesters are gathering once again at Union Park Thursday, as they prepare to take to the streets on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The Coalition to March on the DNC is expected to rally and then march about 6 p.m.
As of 4 p.m., the crowds had started to gather for another evening of protests from pro-Palestinian supporters at Union Park.
They plan to march west along Washington Street to Hermitage Avenue, then to Maypole Avenue and Park 578.
They'll exit the park via Maypole to Damen Avenue, then travel to Lake Street and back to Union Park.
The groups have protested all week long throughout the city. Most have remained peaceful.
Academy Award-winning rapper Common is expected to perform at a massive watch party for the final night of the DNC and Kamala Harris' speech Thursday night at Soldier Field.
The event is being hosted by GoChiLife, DNC officials said, and starts at 7 p.m. If you want a ticket, you're out of luck; there's a massive waitlist only.
Soldier Field can hold more than 60,000 people.
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger is set to deliver a prime-time speech on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, speaking in support of Vice President Kamala Harris before she accepts her party's nomination for president.
Kinzinger, who retired from the House in 2023, has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump over the years, and although he describes himself as a "proud conservative," he endorsed then-candidate Joe Biden for reelection in June.
"Donald Trump poses a direct threat to every fundamental American value," Kinzinger said in his Biden endorsement video, mentioning Trump's role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
The former Illinois congressman sat on the House's Jan. 6 select committee that investigated the attack. He was also one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on a charge of inciting the Jan. 6 attack.
