Anti-Israel groups are planning a significant demonstration at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, coinciding with the celebration of Vice President Kamala Harris' nomination. The U.S. Palestinian Community Network is coordinating the protest, mobilizing participants from various states under the banner of 'March on DNC 2024.' Leaders of the group assert that there is little divergence between Harris and President Biden on Israel-Gaza policy.
Hatem Abudayyeh, the group's leader, emphasized their commitment to mobilization, stating, 'Harris represents the administration; she represents Biden. There is nothing that she has expressed independently that tells us she does not support the policies.' The group aims not only to halt what they perceive as genocide but also to prevent the escalation of conflict into a regional war.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party's stance on Palestine, the group highlighted the continuity of policies despite Joe Biden's decision not to seek re-election. Law enforcement agencies are monitoring the planned protest for any potential threats to the convention. A local organization in Chicago shared a video on social media featuring a masked individual threatening to confront 'killer Kamala' upon her arrival in the city.
The Secret Service confirmed awareness of the video, while the FBI stated that, although they are monitoring the event, no specific threats have been identified thus far. The FBI assured that they would continue to assess intelligence from domestic and international partners related to the DNC, as is standard practice for large-scale events in the Chicago area.