Chicago approves pro-Palestinian protests at DNC while pro-Israel group in limbo

The Democratic National Convention is just weeks away, and a pro-Israel group trying to organize a protest is still uncertain if it will be allowed, but pro-Palestinian groups have the green light.

The Israeli American Council, a nonprofit organization advocating the interests of Israeli-Americans, filed two permit requests with Chicago’s Department of Transportation to protest near the vicinity of the convention in early July. Now, with less than two weeks until the start of the convention, the group has yet to receive any word on the permit, even after following up with an email and a phone call, Jewish Insider reported.

In mid-June, the IAC had submitted an application to hold a demonstration within “sight and sound” of the convention, but the request was denied, with the rejection letter stating the rally “would be a direct interference with a previously planned permitted activity or public assembly and would create public safety issues.”

The city offered to allow the IAC to hold a demonstration in a public park on Aug. 22, the last day of the convention, but the group decided not to accept the offer because it would be too far from the convention, which is being held at the United Center. 

Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian groups have gained permission for a “March on the DNC,” which will be routed near the convention and is expecting to draw more than 25,000 participants. The approval for the planned protest march was meant to settle a lawsuit against Chicago after officials were accused of violating First Amendment rights. Disputes still exist between the march organizers and the city officials over the demonstration’s route. However, it is expected to be settled by a judge within the coming days.

Aya Schechter, chief programming officer at the IAC, said her organization is not being treated fairly compared to the pro-Palestinian protesters.

“It seems like we don’t have equitable access to whatever the other group was approved for,” she said in an interview with the outlet. “We didn’t get any offer to do a march, not even in an alternative location.”

As tensions in the Middle East escalate with concerns of proxy wars breaking out between Israel and Iran, the IAC wants to have a presence at the DNC to remind policymakers about the tragedy that occurred on Oct. 7 and encourage the Biden-Harris administration to support Israel.

“We definitely wanted to bring up more awareness around the U.S. citizens who were either killed on Oct. 7 or kidnapped and are still being held in Gaza,” Schechter told the outlet. “That’s something we think is important to raise awareness during the DNC.”

Meanwhile, Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson has received heavy criticism for casting a tiebreaking vote approving a City Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.