More than 20,000 protesters are expected to gather in Chicago near the Democratic National Convention, with a focus on Palestinian rights, ending the war in Gaza, and reducing U.S. aid to Israel. Arab American groups in Chicago have reported being targeted by local police and federal agents, leading to concerns about excessive force and bias. The Chicago Police Department, under a consent decree since 2019, has a history of racial bias complaints and excessive force cases, with payouts totaling millions in police misconduct cases. Despite assurances of peaceful policing from Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, tensions are high as some protest groups are under investigation for potential ties to terror organizations.
Protest leaders and city officials have engaged in a legal battle over the amount of space designated for demonstrations, with the city only approving a 1.4-mile route for protests near the convention. The Chicago Police Department has outlined plans to avoid arrests at the protests while also identifying activities that could lead to arrests, such as assault, throwing objects, and obstructing traffic. The U.S. Secret Service has been working with local law enforcement agencies to develop security plans for the convention, with thousands of hours of training and collaboration. Extra officers from Illinois and Milwaukee will assist in securing DNC events, with the goal of keeping demonstrations peaceful.
The Arab American community in Chicago has a history of being under law enforcement scrutiny post-9/11, with organizations like the U.S. Palestinian Community Network facing investigations and raids. A co-founder of the network, Rasmea Odeh, was indicted for lying about her past involvement with a designated terror group and subsequently deported. Samidoun, another pro-Palestinian organization, has faced bans in Israel and Germany for alleged ties to terror organizations. Additionally, the attorney general in Virginia is investigating allegations of support for terrorist organizations by a coalition member, American Muslims for Palestine Chicago.
The Arab American community in Chicago has long-standing concerns about bias and racial profiling by law enforcement, as evidenced by a lawsuit that uncovered numerous suspicious activity reports targeting Arab, Muslim, and Middle Eastern individuals. While the community remains vigilant about policing interactions, other organizations in the protest coalition have also faced government surveillance and raids in the past. Despite these challenges, protesters from groups such as the Minnesota Anti-War Committee are determined to exercise their free speech rights at the DNC protests, while being mindful of potential surveillance and its implications on civil liberties.
