CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Protesters are marching on the last night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Thursday, once again calling for Democratic leaders to push for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
A large group of protesters again rallied in Union Park in Chicago, followed by a march near the United Center, where Vice President Kamala Harris will give her acceptance speech later in the night.
Earlier, uncommitted delegates demanded a Palestinian speaker be allowed to address the crowd from the convention’s main stage. Their sit-in started after families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza spoke during Wednesday’s program.
NewsNation correspondent Joe Khalil reports a group of demonstrators told him they had been outside the United Center all night. Some had signs with phrases such as “Not Another Bomb,” as well as ones urging for a U.S. arms embargo on Israel.
“We know the one thing that can most immediately release pressure and bring calm to the entire region: A deal that brings this diverse group of 109 hostages home and ends the suffering of the innocent civilians in Gaza,” said Jon Polin. His son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is one of those being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas.
No Palestinian Americans have been allowed to speak, causing protest organizers and Democratic lawmakers such as Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., to say party leaders are stifling their voices. They have pointed out that the Chicago area’s Palestinian community is among the largest in the country.
Whether their message landed with delegates remains unclear, as people leaving the convention appeared to ignore protesters near the United Center, even as some shouted the names of children who died in Israel’s bombardment.
Over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the Israeli offensive launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in some 250 being taken hostage.
Asma Mohammed, an uncommitted delegate from Minnesota, said on “NewsNation Live” that there are 300 people who have pledged to vote for Harris who are now calling themselves “cease-fire delegates.”
“I think it’s important that we have enthusiasm around the candidate, but I also want to bring forward the fact that a majority of Democrats support a permanent and immediate cease-fire and end to the endless flow of weapons to Israel, because those bombs are killing Palestinian children and Palestinian families,” she said.
Other demonstrations this week have been largely peaceful, except for Tuesday, when there were clashes between police and protesters that led to dozens of arrests.
“We’ve had multiple protests around the city, and I think these have gone well, not only because of the training of the Chicago Police Department and in conjunction with the Secret Service, but also the relationships that we have built with protesters throughout the city of Chicago,” Garien Gatewood, Chicago’s deputy mayor of community safety, said in an interview with NewsNation Thursday.
Larry Snelling, superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, said there were no arrests or injuries during Wednesday’s demonstrations.
NewsNation’s Nick Smith and The Associated Press contributed to this report.