* WBEZ last week…
In contrast to the pro-Palestinian protesters who are planning what they call a “family-friendly march” during next week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, another group of demonstrators here promises a “militant” approach to the DNC — and expects police to clash violently with protesters.
In one post on social media, that group urges “students and youth” to come to Chicago during the DNC to “take police beatings and arrests” in an effort to “shut down the DNC for Gaza.”
The group, which calls itself Behind Enemy Lines, wrote recently, “Make bruises from Chicago police batons the 2024 back to school Fall fashion.”
Behind Enemy Lines says pro-Palestinian activists have faced repression. “But have you thrown down with the Chicago police yet?” the group wrote in a post on its website.
* Same group…
Chicago’s run of peaceful rallies outside the Democratic National Convention came to an end Tuesday night when a group of protesters marched into a line of police, setting off a violent scrum on Madison Street outside one of the city’s major commuter rail stations.
The protesters walked directly into a large group of police officials, four officers deep, around 7:30 p.m. The officers began to push them the other way and yelled, “Move back, move back.” Scuffles began to break out, and officers wearing helmets moved into the crowd.
This was a protest targeting the Israeli consulate.
* The Sun-Times had eight (8) reporters assigned to the protests last night. Check out the huge number of reporters in this video as the scrum began…
The Tribune has lots of photos here.
* Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see any reporters posting videos last night of this behavior…
After the protesters had dispersed, Snelling addressed his officers, mentioning in particular the “vulgar things” some protesters had screamed at women officers.
“There are women on this job being berated by these male protestors, saying some of the most vulgar things,” Snelling said.
That would seem to be valuable news context.
* Tribune…
Tribune reporters witnessed multiple protesters being taken into custody, including two independent journalists. A spokesman for the National Lawyers’ Guild put the number at 67, including those journalists.
By 9 p.m. the crowd had mostly disbanded.
Another large protest of Israel’s military action in Gaza also is expected to step off with a rally in Union Park at 3 p.m. followed by a march toward the United Center that will follow the same path as Monday’s demonstration, which brought out some 3,000 attendees.
- Frida's boss - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 12:20 pm:
More reporters watching and filming than actual protestors. Not surprising a couple of journalists got picked up. Working hard to get the closest and best shot. Get too close to the mouth of the lion and you may get bit.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 12:22 pm:
How does protesting the Israeli consulate advocate for anything?
- Amy - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 12:31 pm:
The protests have been a compete bust. No one is attending because young Democrats are realizing that the “movement” is not factually based and has the very real potential to prevent the election of a pro-choice President and Democratic majorities in Congress. After Roe v Wade was overturned, women simply cannot afford another Trump Presidency with Republican control of the Legislature. The fact that the Gaza protesters do not care about this issue, is eroding their good will with voters and demonstrating they will never compromise on “their” issue for the good of the Party or Country. Trying to leverage Michigan was a huge mistake.
- granville - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 12:46 pm:
White trash ninjas screaming insults and hurling themselves into police batons for no apparent reason is possibly the worst advertisement for a political cause I’ve seen in awhile, though clearly they’re not doing this for Palestine or any political cause. Wishing wellness and safe spaces to all revolutionary comrades and political workers as they work their issues out via public humiliation.
- Parlay Player - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 12:52 pm:
The number of journalists in that video is comical.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 12:56 pm:
I think if they were being abusive to women, that should have been part of the context that the journalists should have captured. And the movement should purge this behavior from their midst and won’t if it doesn’t get reported on.
- Homebody - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 12:58 pm:
There are a bunch of pointless protest groups that seem to exist solely so the members can pat themselves on the back, and not trying to achieve any meaningful results. This group is one of them.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:00 pm:
All I want to say is that despite the desires of the mob (people who seek violence don’t deserve the respect of being called protesters) to replicate 68, I’ve been impressed by the professionalism of the police.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:04 pm:
How do you know what color all the Ninja wearers are?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we knew who was funding these people?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:04 pm:
===exist solely so the members can pat themselves on the back===
That, but also some people just love to fight with cops.
- Politix - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:08 pm:
==I think if they were being abusive to women, that should have been part of the contexts==
The behavior is not limited to protestors. Women experience this every single minute of every single day in Chicago and beyond and CPD is guilty of it’s own share of misogyny and sexism.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:15 pm:
Makes sense that women would be berated. The violent protesters are trying to keep women from restoring their rights and helping MAGA, who took those rights away.
Those calling for a violent breach of the DNC are damaging the cause of pro-Palestinian protesters. Thankfully it is a bust. Many good people protested and left peacefully. Police look like they’re very prepared to handle those who are that dumb, for multiple reasons, to think it’s a badge of honor to physically provoke cops.
- Frida's boss - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:17 pm:
They were looking for a fight and they found it. They lost and no one cares. They will go back to their campuses or their coffee shops, they’ll tell stories.
Massive waste of taxpayer money.
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:29 pm:
Microsoft has admitted that a significant portion (notice: I did not say ALL) of the online activity promoting these protests/riots and the campus protests has been coming from CCP-linked bot farms to sew discord amongst the left.
The majority of Americans side with Israel, but it doesn’t feel that way online.
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:31 pm:
Adding one tangentially related thing: Sun-Times coverage on the protests/riots has been beyond abysmal.
Thankful for CapFax on weeks like these
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:45 pm:
===some people just love to fight with cops.===
“Hey, so my name is called Disturbance
I’ll shout and scream, I’ll kill the king, I’ll rail at all his servants.”
- Amy - Wednesday, Aug 21, 24 @ 1:55 pm:
== Sun-Times coverage on the protests/riots has been beyond abysmal.==
Yep, the pro-Palestinian bias is glaring for them and other “traditional” Chicago media outlets like WBEZ. Readers are looking elsewhere for news on the Middle East and protests as a result.