The group Behind Enemy Lines held a "Make It Great Like ‘68" protest yesterday in Chicago, just outside the Israeli Consulate. There was some fighting with police and ultimately at least 72 people were arrested. The supposed goal was to confront Democrats at the convention a couple miles away.
A group called Behind Enemy Lines planned the demonstration at the consulate on Tuesday night in opposition to U.S. support for Israel in the war in Gaza. In online promotions for the demonstration, the group called on protesters to “Make it great like ’68,” a reference to the 1968 Democratic convention held in Chicago that saw violent clashes between the police and protesters.
Michael Boyte, a co-founder of the group, said last week that the activists he was organizing with had different goals than an earlier march that was held during the convention, which drew many liberal groups and branded itself as family friendly.
“We’re not a pressure group on the Democrats,” Mr. Boyte said. “We’re trying to confront them, confront them for what they’ve been doing to the people of Gaza.”
The protesters clearly came looking for trouble.
The intense confrontations with officers began minutes into the demonstration, after some protesters – many dressed in black, their faces covered – charged at a line of police that had blocked the group from marching. They eventually moved past the officers, but were penned in several times throughout the night by police in riot gear who did not allow protesters to disperse...
Earlier in the evening, some demonstrators set an American flag on fire in the street as the celebratory roll call for Vice President Kamala Harris took place inside the United Center about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away.
As protesters regrouped and approached a line of police in riot gear in front of a Chicago skyscraper that houses the Israeli consulate, an officer said into a megaphone, “You are ordered to immediately disperse.” A woman in the front of the march shouted back with her own megaphone: “We’re not scared of you.”
There are plenty of images from the protest.
The situation at the Behind Enemy Lines protest near Israeli consulate is getting very tense, per reports from the @BlockClubCHI team. Arrests made, and dispersal order has been given. More to come https://t.co/WvIvCsHapI
— Colin Boyle (@colinbphoto) August 21, 2024
✍️ @madisonsavedra @avhndz
📸 @VHilitski @tspraguephoto pic.twitter.com/MIikQd1mU8
Lots of loud chanting into megaphones and an attempt to march (without a permit).
The behind enemy lines group showed up. pic.twitter.com/rQxlLqhXij
— Mike Tobin (@MikeTobinFox) August 21, 2024
DNC (THREAD): "Bring The War Home!" large banner read as protesters marched outside Israeli Consulate near DNC in Chicago on August 20 2024, to protest for Palestine.
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) August 21, 2024
1/ pic.twitter.com/cF7AgNSfb8
They vowed to "sacrifice everything" to strike a blow against "US imperialism."
"Sacrifice everything in order to deal blows to our greatest enemy to our people - US Imperialism!" - DNC protesters spoke outside Israeli Consulate in Chicago
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) August 21, 2024
/4 pic.twitter.com/MwStDl9vHo
But eventually they got tired of chanting and tried to push their way through the police line into the consulate building. Police started their own chant: "Move back."
"Move Back Move Back!" CPD chanted at DNC Protesters as CLASHES AND CHAOS began when marched up to Chicago Police line, attempting to march through towards Israeli Consulate.
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) August 21, 2024
/6 pic.twitter.com/WKpdwOVmq2
"F**k this country! Burn it down!" Which Ivy League school did this guy attend? They were very proud of themselves for burning a flag.
"Move Back Move Back!" CPD chanted at DNC Protesters as CLASHES AND CHAOS began when marched up to Chicago Police line, attempting to march through towards Israeli Consulate.
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) August 21, 2024
/6 pic.twitter.com/WKpdwOVmq2
It got darker and the showdown with police continued. Police were making some arrests and protesters were chanting "F**k twelve."
In the end it seems like the big unruly protest that Behind Enemy Lines promised didn't accomplish much. They'll get a little attention but didn't come close to taking over the consulate, much less shutting down the DNC. Part of that may have been because there were only a few hundred of them. Protests earlier in the week were smaller than expected as well.
More protests were planned throughout the week. However, attendance at the main rally on Monday was far below estimates of organizers who had predicted more than 20,000 would show up.
Snelling said Monday’s crowd was around 3,500 people and that the vast majority of those protesters were peaceful.
I'm assuming all of these protesters will be released eventually. That's always what happens in blue cities. A night in jail is probably going to be the extent of it.
Finally, here's a local news report on some of the conflict.
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