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Protesters rally in Union Park after clash with Vivek Ramaswamy on final day of DNC

By and FOX 32 Digital Staff
Published  August 22, 2024 4:33pm CDT
Politics
FOX 32 Chicago

Chicago DNC: Protests flare up again after convention comes to a close

There were tense moments Thursday as protesters marched throughout Chicago and demonstrations flared up again following Kamala Harris speech.

CHICAGO - Protesters gathered for a rally and march in Union Park on the last day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The protest, organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC, was initially set to begin at 5 p.m. but there were a few clashes that broke out before the start of the march.

The first incident occurred when a counter-protester carrying an American flag made it to the front of the march. 

After police intervened, he left the front of the march but remained along the route. 

Then, as the group was preparing to rally in Union Park, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy made a surprise appearance. 

As he was speaking with protesters, things quickly escalated with demonstrators swarming him and shouting "Racists, go home." 

He and his bodyguards were then surrounded and followed across the street until Ramaswamy was ushered away.

Chicago DNC: Vivek Ramaswamy, protesters clash in Union Park

There were some tense moments Thursday when Vivek Ramaswamy showed up at Chicago's Union Park during a large protest against the Democratic National Convention.

This followed another minor and short-lived clash between Pro-Palestinian protesters and a handful of Trump supporters that showed up to the park with American flags. 

Earlier Thursday, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling was looking ahead to the march. He spoke on the collaborative efforts between organizers and police to keep all those involved safe. 

The protesters called for the following: 

  • The U.S. to end aid to Israel
  • Give the community control of police
  • Immigrant Rights and Legalization for All!
  • The defense of LGBTQIA+ and reproductive rights
  • Money for Jobs, School, Healthcare, Housing, and Environment, Not for War!
  • The right to unionize and strike

This was the coalition's second protest and rally this week. The first one was held on Monday, on the first day of the DNC.