Meet the protesters planning to make their voices heard in Chicago
Thousands of protesters are expected to gather for the Democratic National Convention starting Aug. 19.
By Jorge Ribas and Michael Cadenhead
August 16, 2024 at 6:45 p.m.
It was never just about Joe Biden. Were not changing a thing. Everything is still full steam ahead, said Hatem Abudayyeh, chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, who is pledging to protest at the Democratic National Convention that begins Aug. 19 in Chicago, despite President Joe Bidens name no longer appearing on the Democratic ballot.
The threat of protest has hung over Chicago scene of the violent 1968 demonstrations since the city was first selected as the site of the 2024 convention, but it was supercharged by the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. The elevation of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket is not deterring Abudayyeh or others planning to march. Nor has it softened his inflammatory language towards the Democratic candidate, having previously referred to Biden as Genocide Joe.
Its still about ending the genocide, he said. Our target is the Democratic Party and the leadership of the party and Killer Kamala is one of them. Abudayyeh justifies the monikers for Biden and Harris, saying, we feel that their administration is responsible for this ongoing war and genocide. We just couldnt think of a name for Antony Blinken.
Israel denies that it is carrying out genocide in Gaza. A case brought before the International Court of Justice by South Africa alleges that Israel is violating international law by committing and not preventing genocidal acts. The court has ordered Israel to do more to prevent the deaths of civilians.
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About this story
Videos by Michael Cadenhead and Jorge Ribas. Design and development by Yutao Chen and Jose Soto. Editing by Zach Purser Brown and Libby Casey. Design editing by Eddie Alvarez and Madison Walls. Copy editing by Briana R. Ellison. Molly Hennessy-Fiske contributed to this report.
Jorge Ribas
Jorge Ribas is a senior video journalist on the National desk at The Washington Post. Jorge has reported extensively on politics, immigration, science and health, natural disasters and breaking news.@jribas
Michael Cadenhead
Michael joined The Washington Post in 2022, bringing with him extensive experience as a video journalist. Prior to this, he worked on the breaking news desk at Politico as a video producer since 2019, and prior to that, at Sinclair Broadcast Group since 2018, and local PBS since 2011.
msongs
(70,097 posts)lees1975
(5,862 posts)That's not a provocative question, it's a sincere one. They are committed to an all or nothing position that, as the history of this particular issue has shown on more than one previous occasion, winds up delivering nothing for them.
Surely they realize that if they alienate the Democrats, they've alienated the only hope they have for helping the people of Gaza, and that if Trump wins, Gaza is gone, along with any possibility of independence and autonomy for a Palestinian state.
stopdiggin
(12,699 posts)other than that, I really don't care ....
You have your 1st Amend rights ..
But I am so thoroughly over you and your 'Killer Kamala" and "Genocide Joe" crapola.
P_ssed in your own bathwater too many times ...
Mme. Defarge
(8,504 posts)no doubt, will be cheering them on.
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Groups will be kettled, zip-ties pulled far too tight and left on much too long, paperwork will be lost, people will spend time in County.
I confess I will not care at all, and won't expend much effort trying not to smile....
roscoeroscoe
(1,595 posts)I can't imagine being naive enough to wander into this thinking this is the right way to promote helping the Palestinians.
LymphocyteLover
(6,602 posts)dalton99a
(84,074 posts)WENSTJDON
(135 posts)that there is no way for anyone to get into Gaza. I told him that was a lame excuse. If they are so concerned about the people of Gaza, if they cant get there, then they should go protest against the war in Israel or Egypt. Protesting in the US is not productive if your true goal is peace in the ME. President Joe Biden, and VP Kamala Harris, do not control Israel, and are trying everything they can to end hostilities in the region. I believe the protesters in our country just want to help Trump win.