Staff Reports
Anti-Israel protesters decided to kick off the week of the Democratic National Convention with a bang—or should it be a honk? The scene outside the venue, specifically at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, was a spectacle, complete with chants and signs demanding that voters look past the DNC’s politics and reject none other than Kamala Harris herself.
Organized by an oddly named coalition, “Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws,” which merges feminist and pro-Palestinian sentiments, these protests signal the growing agitation not only against Israel but also against the Democrats who, it seems, have lost a significant part of their own base. According to the group’s spokesperson, this was merely the first of what could be an avalanche of demonstrations throughout the week, proving that not everyone in the party is on board with their narrative.
BREAKING: Hundreds of Chicago Police Officers are already being mobilized downtown to prepare for a big protest planned against the Democrats TONIGHT. The DNC hasn't even officially begun, and the protestors are already about to hit the streets
It's going to be a TRAINWRECK! pic.twitter.com/BIu0FBqeff
— George (@BehizyTweets) August 18, 2024
Hatem Abudayyeh, who took time out of presumably busy day to lead the charge, claimed that “tens of thousands” would be strutting their stuff in the streets. It’s as if he’s under the impression that shouting in unison somehow translates to an overwhelming voter base. The coalition, numbering nearly 270 organizations and counting, has set its sights on the DNC not just to express grievances but to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel. Talk about aiming for the stars—maybe they should have aimed for a better political strategy.
As the protesters gathered, the social media sphere lit up with photos and videos circulating faster than a cat meme. According to reports, they were driving home the point that Democrats have been spinning their wheels on promises, a sentiment echoed by at least one passionate speaker at the rally. This individual highlighted a dissatisfaction so widespread that it could almost compete with their favorite pastime of defacing monuments—with a sprinkle of “who needs the truth” rhetoric thrown in.
The ultimate takeaway from this anti-Israel fiasco outside the DNC? The Democrats ought to pay attention. In a time when voters are more wired, informed, and, yes, disillusioned than ever, ignoring dissent may not be the best strategy. After all, if Democratic leaders can’t keep their own activists satisfied, what chance do they have in convincing the average American on issues that matter more substantially than how they feel about foreign aid? They might soon learn that a vote lost to apathy is far worse than one lost to a protest.
