The first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago saw approximately 3,500 protesters marching from Union Park to Park 578, north of the United Center. The protest was in solidarity with Palestine, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. funding to Israel. While the majority of protesters were peaceful, a small group breached the outer security perimeter fence around the United Center. They removed locks and knocked down part of the fence, prompting police intervention. Some individuals threw objects at police and sprayed officers with pepper spray, resulting in the arrest of 13 people, with 10 of them facing charges related to breaching the security fence.
Following the breach, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling ensured that the security perimeter around the United Center was fortified to prevent further breaches during the DNC. Additional fencing was added to the security perimeter, and other repairs were made to the security fence to enhance security measures. Despite the breach, Snelling stated that there was no need for the CPD to change its public safety strategy during the convention. He commended the response of the police officers and emphasized that the department was prepared for such incidents and would continue to protect the city from vandalism and violence.
The U.S. Secret Service Democratic National Convention Coordinator confirmed that changes had been made along the security perimeter and emphasized the multi-layered approach to security measures in collaboration with state, local, and federal partners. While the National Lawyers Guild claimed that two individuals who were arrested were hospitalized due to police assault, Snelling denied the allegations, stating that they were taken to the hospital to receive necessary medication. Snelling also mentioned that body camera footage of Monday’s arrests would be released after formal charges were made, to provide transparency regarding police actions during the protest.
Although the majority of protesters were peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights, a small group chose to stay behind after the protest and breached the security fence. Snelling reiterated that the response from CPD officers showed proper restraint while making arrests, and that the officers were properly trained to handle such situations. He defended the actions of the police, stating that more force could have been used but was not, showing great restraint on the part of the officers. Despite opposition to the police response, Snelling reaffirmed the department’s commitment to public safety and readiness to respond to any situation that may arise during the convention.
In response to claims from the National Lawyers Guild that two individuals were arrested despite being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Snelling emphasized that being in the wrong place at the wrong time could be indicative of the choices made to engage in criminal activity. He explained that those engaged in criminal acts during the protest were met with a response from officers who were trained to handle such situations, preventing a more serious breach. Snelling expressed confidence in the preparedness and training of the CPD in dealing with security threats and maintaining order during large-scale events like the DNC.
