Chicago denies ‘operational failure’ after Gaza protesters breach DNC security

CHICAGO — The City of Chicago is denying that an “operational failure” allowed multiple pro-Gaza protesters to breach security surrounding the Democratic National Convention.

Multiple protesters were arrested Monday after deviating from a city-approved parade route and breaking down the first layer of security fencing.

The demonstration, organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC, began gathering before noon at Union Park, just blocks away from the United Center where President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver the DNC’s Monday night keynote address, before beginning their march around 3 p.m. Central.

The permitted route approved by the city saw protesters travel West out of Union Park along Washington Boulevard, travel one block north, and continue West to Park 578, where the breach occurred.

Protesters had been expected to continue West to Damen Avenue before traveling North to Lake Street and moving East back toward Union Park.

Pressed by the Washington Examiner, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shot down the idea that more police should have been stationed in Park 578.

“Protecting the First Amendment right. That’s what we’ve done. We’ve done that,” he stated. “Here’s what the failure is: an extreme Republican Party that doesn’t believe in democracy, an extreme Republican Party that attacked this country, an extreme Republican Party with Gov. Abbott attacking the city of Chicago. That’s what’s extreme. That’s what the failure is, but what you’re experiencing right now, you’re experiencing the hopes and aspirations of the people of this country.”

Police stationed between the first and second layers of security fencing quickly responded to the breach, arresting at least one person.

Following the initial breach, an estimated 300 Chicago police officers wearing protective riot gear were mobilized to Park 578. Law enforcement made a number of additional arrests, bringing the total to at least six, before working to completely clear the park of protesters.

“Why are you in riot gear?” protesters chanted as police cleared the park. “I don’t see a riot here.”

Chicago police did not respond to inquiries on the breach, but the Chicago Police Department and the DNC’s Public Safety Joint Information Center published a statement Monday evening regarding the incident. The Secret Service also directed inquiries about law enforcement positioning the DNC Joint Information Center.

“Demonstrators breached a portion of anti-scale fencing along the National Convention’s outer perimeter near the United Center on August 19. Law enforcement personnel were immediately on-scene and contained the situation,” the statement reads. “At no point was the inner perimeter breached, and there was no threat to any protectees.”

Protest organizers said last week that they had planned to appeal the permitted parade route granted by the city, as it did not meet their initial request to march directly along the convention center’s security perimeter.

“If everybody is doing exactly what’s expected of them and exercising their First Amendment rights, this is not an arrest situation,” CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling said last Tuesday when asked how law enforcement would handle protesters who broke from the permitted route. “We want people to exercise their First Amendment rights. We will protect them while they’re doing it. But we will not guarantee someone that we’re not going to make arrests if they act violently or start to commit crimes.”

Graeme Jennings and Arik Dashevsky contributed to this report