Pro-Palestine protests loom ahead of first day of DNC
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Dozens of Muslim delegates and friends are outraged by the US support of "Israel" and its complicity in the genocide, demanding revisions to the Democratic platform and lobbying for a weapons embargo.
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Protesters march prior to the start of the Democratic National Convention on August 18, 2024, in Chicago, US. (AP)
Pro-Palestine demonstrators are expected to attend the Democratic National Convention's opening day on Monday to criticize the Biden administration's stance on "Israel's" genocide in Gaza.
A one-mile march organized by the umbrella group "March on the DNC" was set to take place in a park outside the Chicago convention arena hours before President Joe Biden addresses the gathering where Democratic delegates will publicly nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate.
Organizers had requested a longer path so that all demonstrators could walk, according to Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for March, which is made up of over 200 groups.
Roman Fritz, one of Wisconsin's youngest delegates at 19, expressed concern that the Secret Service might remove his Kouffiyeh when he arrived at the formal meeting. Fritz stated that he intended to attend the march but had no plans to disrupt the formal ceremonies thereafter.
Dozens of Muslim delegates and friends are outraged by the US support of "Israel" and its complicity in the genocide, demanding revisions to the Democratic platform and lobbying for a weapons embargo, putting the party on alert for disruptions to high-profile speakers at the convention.
Fritz, who was dressed in a "Ceasefire delegate" T-shirt, said he backed Harris as the contender to defeat Trump but would not vote for her because of the Biden administration's support for "Israel."
"In good conscience, I can't vote for her with the lack of a concrete policy on an arms embargo on Israel and a real ceasefire."
March on DNC spokesperson Abudayyeh predicted tens of thousands of demonstrators for the event.
Protesters ask police not to violate their free speech rights, he added, citing that "We don't need them to keep us safe. We don't need them to protect us, just not to infringe on our rights."
Another massive protest was planned for Thursday when Harris was set to accept the nomination.
Scattered demonstrations began on Sunday in a mostly deserted downtown Chicago.
On Sunday night, over 1,000 pro-Palestinian protestors marched through downtown Chicago, yelling, "Shut down the DNC."
"The Democrats are the ones in power," Abudayyeh remarked Monday, adding that "It's their war. They're responsible for it, they're complicit, and they can stop it."
'Israel', US have no intention of halting Gaza massacres: Cuban FM
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has once again strongly condemned the Israeli occupation's ongoing military actions in Gaza, accusing the occupying regime of perpetrating a massacre without any intention of addressing the underlying causes of the war.
Rodriguez also criticized the United States for its continued support of the Israeli occupation, asserting that this backing allows "Israel" to act with impunity.
The Cuban top diplomat highlighted the recent bombings in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the deaths of at least 10 children, as clear evidence of Israeli aggression. He reiterated Cuba's condemnation of the "Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people" and criticized the US for enabling this through its unwavering support.
Cuba has always been a strong supporter of Palestinian rights and sovereignty. After the Gaza war broke out, President Miguel Diaz-Canel led a popular march of thousands of Cubans along central Malecon Street to express their support for the Palestinian cause and condemn the crimes of the Israeli occupation.
