The route for the DNC convention 2024 protest has been a course for debate in court for months now as city officials have refused to grant protesters who want to get their message to democratic VIPs the permission to demonstrate close to the United Center.
According to CBS News, the city agreed that the route for protesters will begin at Union park head south to Ashland Avenue, west to Washington Boulevard, north on Hermitage Avenue, west on Maypole Avenue to Park 578 then to Damen Avenue, north to Lake Street and finally protesters were expected to take east back to union Park.
However, Protesters have opined that the city’s routes are winding and short.
“Remember, 1.1 miles. We know that a protest of 10,000 people takes up longer than one mile. If we’re going to have tens of thousands, which we expect, because we have people bringing in buses, chartered buses from Michigan, from Wisconsin, from Minnesota, from Ohio all across the Midwest,” said Hatem Abudayyeh, Chair of the U.S. – Palestine Community Network.
The route offered by the city is only over a mile and based on estimations, over 25,000 protesters are expected in the DNC thus, protest organizers demand for longer routes.
In a recent post by News Nation “The city says there is enough space, but protesters say they will not be able to get close enough to attendees to be heard”.
Regardless, The U.S. district Judge, Andrea Wood, on Monday said she would not force the city to change the routes offered to protesters as it not only satisfies security and safety concerns but aligns with the First Amendment.
Protesters have refused to accept the ruling as it is not in congruence with their desires. According to a statement by Abudayeh, “We are not giving up. We are going to appeal, and so we’re hopeful”.
Whether or not the routes will be changed, we’ll have to wait and see. But based on the statement by Wood, the topic of changing the routes for protesters is closed.
Therefore, as reported by NBC Chicago, the routes for the protest will include two locations, the Union Park which is three blocks east of the united center and Park #578, north of the United center.
The DNC convention 2024 protest dates
Following a report by the Chicago Sun-Times, the protesters are expected to demonstrate on the first day of the convention, third and last day of the convention, that is, August 19, 21 and August 22 respectively.
Why are protesters marching at the DNC Chicago 2024
Over 25,000 protesters are ready to march during the DNC convention in Chicago to express their concern over the war in Gaza.
Protesters at the DNC are demanding for the U.S to put an end to Israel’s fight in Gaza and to withdraw their support from Israel.
Overall, protesters hope that their voice will be heard at the DNC 2024 and expect the U.S. to halt their support for Israel and help Palestinians as the coalition believes that a “genocide” is taking place in Gaza.
