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.
“We’re 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 Biden’s name no longer appearing on the Democratic ballot.
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.”
“It’s 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 couldn’t think of a name for Antony Blinken.”
