Pro-Palestinian Protests Mark the Final Hours of DNC

In the final hours of the Democratic National Convention, thousands of Pro-Palestinian protesters marched through residential areas near the United Center. The peaceful atmosphere was briefly disrupted by the appearance of Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican candidate. Participants called for more Palestinian representation at the DNC.

In the closing hours of the Democratic National Convention, pro-Palestinian demonstrations took center stage, drawing thousands of participants who marched through neighborhoods near the United Center on Thursday night.

The protests maintained a largely peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere, featuring a sea of Palestinian flags and spirited dance songs. Attendees displayed signs urging an end to U.S. aid to Israel, and wore shirts bearing the slogan "Not In Our Name." This demonstration, like one held earlier in the week, was organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC, consisting of over 200 organizations.

The gathering was momentarily disrupted when former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy entered the scene, claiming a desire to hear alternative viewpoints. However, after expressing support for Israel, he was swiftly driven away by chants of "racists go home." Critics within the protest highlighted the absence of Palestinian voices at the convention, a sentiment echoed by Lisa Pint, a Democratic ticket supporter who recognized the need for Palestinian representation after conversing with activists.

Chicago police reported no arrests or injuries, contrasting the peace of Thursday night's march with the prior day's more contentious protest, which saw 56 arrests following clashes at the Israeli Consulate. Despite occasional minor disturbances, the majority of demonstrations underscored the power of collaboration between protest organizers and law enforcement to maintain peaceful First Amendment-protected activities.

(With inputs from agencies.)