Democratic National Convention organizers face challenges as concerns arise over Brandon Johnson’s potential defense of protesters

The Democratic National Convention will be hosted in August in Chicago, Illinois, and given Mayor Brandon Johnson’s roots in activism, some fear that protesters could take center stage at the party’s flagship event.

Johnson’s critics worry that he won’t rein in protesters and that the convention will be reminiscent of the riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which was also in Chicago.

Johnson said he is committed to safety and will “move with precision” to keep everyone safe. He said he will allow activists to peacefully protest, and he won’t commit to clearing overnight encampments, such as the ones that have sprouted up on college campuses across the country.

“It just depends on the situation, quite frankly,” Johnson said. “If people are involved in an encampment that has put people in harm’s way, then it is my job to create a secure environment so that people are not in harm’s way. If people are protesting peacefully, their First Amendment is protected. That’s a constitutional protection.”

In the past, Johnson has sided with policies friendly to activists. Keeping a campaign promise to progressives, Johnson ended a contract for an early gunshot detection system. The city’s police department didn’t remove protesters from an encampment at the University of Chicago, and Johnson defended a member of the City Council who attended a rally where the American flag was burned.

“The issue is going to be: What is the mayor going to say and defend that is done outside of the permitted restrictions?” Democratic Alderman Ray Lopez told NBC News. “Is he going to defend people who protest and destroy property without permits? Or who are causing chaos just for the sake of chaos? Is he going to defend it, or is he going to speak out against that?”

So far, Johnson is facing criticisms from both activists and Democratic leaders worried about the security of the Democratic National Convention. Several activist groups are taking the city to court, saying their permits to march near the two main convention sites, the United Center and McCormick Place, were denied.

Meanwhile, security for the Democratic National Convention will be headed by the Secret Service, but they will only have jurisdiction within parts of the city within the security perimeter.

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“The Secret Service is satisfied, based on our manpower briefing, that Chicago is well-prepared from a staffing perspective to handle safety and security of the event,” agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

On top of that, the Chicago Police Department says it is currently down 2,000 police officers from where it needs to be. “We’re just going to have to play with the cards that we have. We’re a little bit short right now. So that will manifest itself in canceled days off and additional overtime during the convention and the weeks leading up to it,” Democratic Alderman Brian Hopkins said.