Prior to Monday night’s slate of top Democratic Party speakers at the Democratic National Convention, anti-Israel protesters breached the fencing around Chicago’s United Center. Multiple people were arrested as the left-wing protesters clashed with law enforcement officials.
According to The Post Millennial, Monday’s protesters included multiple individuals with anti-Israel signs, Palestinian flags, and keffiyehs. While the protest started with peaceful demonstrations, the protesters eventually broke through the fencing around the United Center and advanced toward the interior fencing of the security perimeter, leading to clashes with law enforcement officials.
Sharing a video on X, formerly Twitter, Frontlines’ Savanah Hernandez tweeted, “DNC Day 1- Pro-Palestinian protestors have broken down a portion of the DNC border gate and are climbing the gate and debating whether or not to flood in.”
According to Fox 32 Chicago, an hour before protesters started marching near the Democratic National Convention, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said, “We have no fear. We’ve had no incidents.” However, the situation changed after protesters broke through the security perimeter, forcing law enforcement officials to make multiple arrests and evacuate a park near the convention center.
Fox 32 Chicago reported that a protester used a sledgehammer to smash through a portion of the perimeter fencing, while other protesters broke down security gates and entered restricted areas. Multiple protesters also threw rocks and sticks at police officers, according to Fox 32 Chicago.
Journalist Jonathan Choe shared a video of law enforcement officers confronting the protesters. “Absolute chaos erupting outside the fenced perimeter of the DNC in Chicago,” Choe tweeted. Antifa and pro-Hamas activists are throwing wooden sticks and water bottles at cops. They’ve also removed part of the fencing. I’ve now seen at least four people taken away in zip ties.”
Addressing Monday’s security breach, Snelling said, “We need to assess if the fencing is effective.” The police superintendent also confirmed that four individuals were arrested during Monday’s protest.
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Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) also addressed Monday’s security breach at the Democratic National Convention. He stated, “We were briefed on the security at the convention multiple times by Homeland Security, CPD, FBI, and so forth. This was what we were told was unscalable, unbreachable fencing. This isn’t supposed to be happening.”
