Chicago DNC protest: Video shows moment security fence breached outside United Center

CHICAGO - Chicago protesters breached a security fence outside the United Center on Monday as thousands inside prepared for the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

What began as a peaceful demonstration turned chaotic and dangerous during Chicago's second DNC-related march so far.

Just an hour before the march started, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling told reporters, "We have no fear. We've had no incidents." However, that changed after 3 p.m.

Agitators breached security gates, prompting police to don gas masks, make arrests, and evacuate a local park.

The day began with thousands gathering in Union Park for the first day of the Democratic National Convention. Dozens of activist groups rallied for better healthcare, abortion rights, and, primarily, a ceasefire in the Middle East. The group then marched peacefully, accompanied by hundreds of national and international media outlets.

The situation escalated when protesters reached Park 578 on West Maypole, just two blocks from the United Center, where delegates were filing in. As they neared the security perimeter, chaos erupted.

According to FOX 32 crews, a man used a sledgehammer from his backpack to dismantle perimeter fencing. Others broke down gates and jumped into restricted areas. Agitators were seen throwing sticks and rocks at police, and cameras captured another man lunging at law enforcement before being detained.

Superintendent Snelling, who was on the scene, responded to the breach, stating, "We need to assess if the fencing is effective." He also confirmed that four arrests were made at Park 578.

By 6 p.m., 100 Chicago police officers stood shoulder to shoulder as they evacuated the park.

City officials and federal law enforcement leaders have spent the last year crafting an extensive security plan for the duration of the DNC. One of the main challenges was expected to be the tens of thousands of protesters gathering around downtown Chicago, Union Park, and other areas near the United Center.

The following statement can be attributed to the DNC Joint Information Center:

"Demonstrators breached a portion of anti-scale fencing along the Democratic National Convention’s outer perimeter near the United Center on Aug. 19. Law enforcement personnel were immediately on-scene and contained the situation. At no point was the inner perimeter breached, and there was no threat to any protectees.

The National Special Security Event plan employs a multi-layered approach. Each NSSE plan is unique and includes multiple layers. One of these redundancies include the outer perimeter fence, which was erected to prevent entry into the inner perimeter.

The Chicago Police Department remains on-scene and is working to clear the area."

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) shared his thoughts after protesters broke through the security perimeter.

"We were briefed on the security at the convention multiple times by homeland security, CPD, FBI and so forth. This was what we were told was unscalable, unbreachable fencing. This isn't supposed to be happening."

One of the largest demonstrations on Monday was the Coalition to March on the DNC, which began with a rally at Union Park at noon before marching around 3 p.m. The coalition, made up of over 200 organizations, includes the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, and the Arab American Action Network.

The coalition is calling for:

• The U.S. to end aid to Israel
• Community control of police
• Immigrant rights and legalization for all
• Defense of LGBTQIA+ and reproductive rights
• Money for jobs, schools, healthcare, housing, and the environment—not for war
• The right to unionize and strike

As the Democratic National Convention began on Monday, many businesses across Chicago took extra precautions to protect their properties amid concerns that protests could escalate. On the Near West Side, residents witnessed the United Center surrounded by fencing, streets lined with trucks, and a heavy police presence.

The convention, which will run from Monday through Thursday at the United Center and McCormick Place, is expected to draw around 50,000 attendees, including delegates, guests, and 15,000 journalists. High-profile speakers include President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton, all of whom are expected to endorse Kamala Harris and her running mate.

On Monday night, as convention activities continued at the United Center, protesters who were arrested earlier in the day were brought to a temporary courthouse where they appeared before a judge.

Located in the 2400 block of West Belmont Avenue, the former Cook County Circuit Court has been re-activated to handle a potential influx of arrests during the Democratic National Convention.

It came at the request of the Chicago Police Department and the City of Chicago in preparation for an increased number of court proceedings if mass-arrest incidents unfold during protests.

Dozens of judges even cleared their calendars of all non-essential proceedings for the week in order to be available.

While a handful of protesters were being processed inside, a small group of demonstrators gathered outside on Monday evening. They told FOX 32 Chicago that they contacted the National Lawyers Guild, who sent representatives for two of their friends who were arrested.

They say they were marching for Palestine when some outside agitators began tearing down fencing.

"We were only there to peacefully protest, I know specifically my friend only went into the rioted area in order to get people to come back, he was only there as a protector, but I guess since the cops saw him pushing people back into the permitted area, he was seen as an aggressor," said Majid Matariyeh, demonstrator.

The temporary courthouse facility will operate from 8 a.m. to midnight. If necessary, judges there will hear cases resulting from multiple arrests until August 31.

DNC Related Links

• Chicago DNC 2024: Street closures and traffic impacts from the convention
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• DNC speaker schedule Monday: Joe Biden headlines first day of convention
• DNC in Chicago: Tim Walz’ wife makes surprise address to Illinois Democrats
• Kamala Harris has favorability among Americans heading into DNC, poll shows
• Chicago DNC 2024: Protests, marches and rallies
• Chicago DNC 2024: Everything you need to know

AP Report: Protesters tear down security fence, thousands march outside DNC

Dozens of protesters broke through a security fence near the site of the Democratic National Convention on its opening day Monday as thousands took to the streets to voice their opposition to the war in Gaza.

Families with babies in strollers, students, elected leaders and others holding signs and flags joined the march to the United Center, where the convention is being held, to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. As the larger group marched peacefully, a few dozen who broke away tore down pieces of the security fence.

Several protesters who had managed to get through the fence were detained and handcuffed by the police. Officers put on gas masks as some protesters tried to bring down a second fence set up in front of police. Authorities said the inner security perimeter surrounding convention site was not breached and there was no threat to those attending the convention.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said some of the protesters who took down the fence threw water bottles and other items at police. Police de-escalated the situation without using their batons or chemicals, he said.

"When you have people infiltrate a crowd and they want to commit acts of violence, vandalism we are going to stop them," said Snelling, who walked in a group of officers ahead of the protesters Monday. "We are not going to tolerate anyone who is going to vandalize things in our city."

Members of the crowd chanted "End the occupation now" and then "The whole world is watching!" just as anti-Vietnam War protesters did during the infamous 1968 convention in Chicago when police clashed with protesters on live television. Families gathered on their porches and outside their doors as protesters marched by. Some children wore keffiyeh, blew bubbles or held "free fist bumps" signs.

The march happened just as President Joe Biden, who has been the target of intense criticism from pro-Palestinian groups, including the marchers, was doing a walk-through of the largely empty United Center. Biden was scheduled to address the party in the evening.

"Biden, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide," the marchers chanted amid the beating of drums. They also referred to him as "Genocide Joe" and lodged similar chants at Vice President Kamala Harris.

Protesters said their plans have not changed since Biden left the race and the party quickly rallied behind Harris, who will formally accept the Democratic nomination this week. Activists said they were ready to amplify their progressive message before the nation's top Democratic leaders.

"People are dying," said Cameron Benrud, a 25-year-old high school special education teacher from Minneapolis. He drove five hours to attend the rally at Union Park to call on Democratic officials to halt funding to Israel.

"I’m from little old Minnesota, and you feel kind of powerless... You gotta do something," he said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said authorities were well prepared. "The city of Chicago is really good at things like this," he told a news conference. "We are ready."

Organizers had hoped at least 20,000 people would take part in Monday’s rally and march, but it appeared that only a few thousand were present, though city officials declined to give a crowd estimate.

"We’re proud of the turnout, especially considering the degree of the repression from the city," said organizer Faayani Aboma Mijana.

The Chicago area has one of the largest Palestinian communities in the nation, and buses were bringing activists from all over the country.

Taylor Cook, an organizer with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, traveled from Atlanta for the march. Cook said the group was pushing all Democrats to call for an end to aid to Israel, with a particular focus on Harris.

"We’re saying to Kamala, she has been complicit in this. People think it’s just Joe Biden, but she is vice president," Cook said. "So we’re saying, you need to stop if you want our vote."

Medea Benjamin, who traveled to Chicago from Washington, D.C., with a women-led group of protesters calling for peace, said she was shocked that the Biden administration recently approved an additional $20 billion in weapons sales to Israel.

"There’s an incredible discrepancy in what people are calling for in this country and what the administration is doing," she said ahead of the rally in Union Park. "We’re so disgusted by this."

Pro-Palestinian supporters descended on the park, west of the Loop business district, for the rally.

Prior to the march, independent presidential candidate Cornel West addressed the crowd, which welcomed him with cheers.

"This is not about some Machiavellian politics or some utilitarian calculation about an election," he yelled into a microphone. "This is about morality. This is about spirituality."

Around 40 pro-Israel supporters walked around the park during the rally. Remaining mostly silent while waving Israeli flags, they were accompanied by about 20 police officers on bicycles. Although tensions flared at times, there were no physical altercations.

Josh Weiner, co-founder of Chicago Jewish Alliance who walked with the pro-Israel group, said their intent was to "make our presence felt." He said the group applied for permits that were not approved by the city.

"The pro-Palestine protesters have gotten multiple permits, including a march, which seems to be a little bit weighted on one side," Weiner said.

Coalition activists and the city have been at odds over the location of the protests and other logistics. A judge sided with the city over an approximately 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) march route, which organizers argued was not big enough for the expected crowds.

Not a single speaker or spectator showed up to a speakers’ stage offered by city officials near the United Center. Eight groups with progressive agendas had signed up for 45-minute speaking slots on Monday. On other days, some conservative groups, including the Illinois Policy Institute think tank, have plans to speak.

In the afternoon, the Philadelphia-based Poor People’s Army, which advocates for economic justice, set up in Humboldt Park on the city’s northwest side before marching more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) to the United Center.