Pro-Palestinian demonstrators planning massive protests in Chicago next week at the Democratic National Convention face a legal setback.
A federal judge rejected a request by demonstrators to expand their protest route, which would have brought them closer to Chicago’s United Center, site of the Democratic National Convention from August 19 to 22.
U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood said in her ruling Monday night ahead of a Tuesday afternoon hearing that the protest route provided by the city complied with the First Amendment while also addressing significant safety concerns.
Chicago is designating two parks and a 1.1-mile march route outside the safety zone of the United Center for protesters.
Democratic heavyweights to speak at party’s national nominating convention next week
Activists take part in a pro-Palestinian protest near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024 (Alex Huang/Getty Images)
However, demonstrators protesting the Biden-Harris administration’s support for Israel in Gaza’s nearly 11-month war with Hamas believe they need a larger route that would bring them closer to the convention site. to accommodate large crowds of demonstrators.
Alliance marches on Democratic National CommitteeAn umbrella group of left-wing groups that is helping organize the planned protests said in a social media post on Sunday that Democratic officials “underestimated our anger, our resilience and our unwavering commitment to the precious life of every Palestinian” who endures This horrific genocide.
Separately, at a press conference in Chicago on Monday hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and coalition groups, organizers predicted that “thousands of peaceful protesters from across the country will flood the streets to denounce the horrific scenes taking place in Gaza” Everything is funded and supported by the U.S. government, and the voice of the people will be clear and unified.
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Demonstrators also faced setbacks in court ahead of last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee as they demanded closer access to Feather Field, where the convention will be held. The protesters ultimately caused only a minor stir during the four-day convention.
Democratic officials hope to avoid a repeat of the 1968 convention in Chicago, when divided Democrats bickered over the Vietnam War and there were fight scenes between delegates and protests were quelled with tear gas and batons.
While Democrats are divided over the U.S. response to the soaring Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war, political experts say comparisons to the chaos of 1968 are unjustified.
While there may be scenes of anger and dissent outside the safe zone in anticipation of pro-Palestinian protests, a largely united and now energized Democratic Party will meet inside the United Center.
Former President Clinton and Obama (left) and President Biden (center) join forces for a Democratic campaign fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 28, 2024. (Getty Images)
Democratic bigwigs will take center stage at the convention. Fox News confirmed President Biden, Former Presidents Obama and Clinton, as well as former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, have been confirmed speakers.
Nearly a month before the Democratic convention, the president sensationally announced on July 21 that he was suspending his re-election campaign and would support Vice President Kamala Harris This follows his disastrous performance against Republican presidential candidate and former President Trump in a late June debate.
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Biden’s incoherent and uneven answers at the debate raised questions about whether the 81-year-old president has the physical and mental capacity to endure another four years in the White House and prompted unanimous calls from his own party to Calling for an end to his 2024 campaign.
Democrats desperately want Keep Trump Calls to return to the White House quickly gathered around Harris, who was formally nominated by the party in a virtual roll call last week.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gesture during a campaign rally at the Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Aug. 10, 2024. (Ronda Churchill/AFP via Getty Images)
Harris’ fundraising surged after she replaced Biden as the Democratic 2024 presidential candidate three weeks ago, with her fundraising in July more than double what Trump raised last month. Additionally, Harris’ fundraising surged again after naming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate a week ago.
The vice president and Walz quickly began campaigning in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada, drawing large crowds at each stop.
Although both Harris and Walz have been formally nominated, conference organizers said a roll call ceremony will be held in Chicago next week. The vice president and Minnesota governor will deliver nationally televised addresses next Wednesday and Thursday.
Get the latest updates on the 2024 campaign, exclusive interviews and more in our Fox News Digital Election Hub.
