Several streets were closed as protesters marched through downtown Chicago on Sunday as part of the first authorized demonstration ahead of the Democratic National Convention on Monday.
The Chicago Department of Emergency Management and Communications warned of a temporary closure of part of Michigan Avenue as protesters headed south toward Grant Park.
At 5:30 p.m., OEMC posted on X that Wacker was closed from Michigan to Steston. Drivers were advised to take an alternate route.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at a march organized by Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws: Coalition for Reproductive Justice & LGBTQ+ Liberation that began in Michigan and Wacker.
There was a large police presence, including dozens of Chicago police officers on bicycles and high-ranking law enforcement officials, including Chicago Police Commissioner Larry Snelling. At around 6:30 p.m., protesters began marching down Michigan Avenue to their final destination at Grant Park.
A coalition of protest groups reached a last-minute agreement with city authorities on Thursday, meeting many of the group’s demands, including setting up a stage and sound system near the protest site.
In a one-on-one interview with NBC Chicago’s Stefan Holt, Snelling expressed confidence in the department’s plans to ensure the safety of visitors and residents during potential protests.
“It’s not 1968 anymore. Our officers are trained differently,” he said, referring to the infamous DNC, which saw violent clashes between anti-war protesters and police in Chicago. “The department has evolved. Our officers have evolved. We’ve been training for this event for over a year, so preparation is the most important thing.”
Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling spoke about safety and security at the upcoming Democratic National Convention, reflecting on his own experiences as a police officer during the 1996 Democratic National Convention. NBC Chicago’s Stefan Holt reports.
These preparations have been intensified in view of the possibility of possible protests against the party congress. Among other things, demonstrators want to express their displeasure with the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Chicago police are far from the only ones working to secure DNC sites. Numerous police departments from Illinois as well as the Milwaukee Police Department will participate, along with federal police, as the DNC is considered a “national special security event.”
The protests are expected to take place in two Chicago parks, including Union Park and Park #578, both just blocks from the United Center. Officials said designated protest routes have also been established.
