* It looks like the protest organizers did their part to keep the peace yesterday. From the Sun-Times, which had seven (7!) reporters assigned to yesterday’s protest…

The protesters who hit Chicago’s streets during the Democratic National Convention’s first 24 hours have been lively, passionate and mostly peaceful — and so far defied fears that the city would relive violence etched in so many memories since 1968. […]

Dozens breach security perimeter

All remained peaceful until shortly before 5 p.m., when people broke through part of the security perimeter fence near the United Center. Police officers were soon seen carrying batons and wearing gas masks and riot gear.

Chicago Sun-Times reporters spotted five gaps in the security fence. Dozens of people had breached it — including members of the media. But officers ultimately converged toward the intruders from two directions, squeezing them back out of the perimeter. Some people fell, including a TV camera operator.

The people who breached the fence were not among the organizers of the march. Rather, they had earlier tried to lead demonstrators off of the approved march route, toward the United Center.

Protest marshals working with the March on the DNC urged the crowds to stay on the approved route, and they did.

Later Monday, when demonstrators returned to Union Park, police issued two dispersal orders after some people began setting up a tent encampment. The tension was soon dissipated, and the crowds eventually left peacefully.

* CBS News…

Only about 100 people were part of the faction involved in the security breach. The vast majority of people involved in the protest were peaceful and had left the scene by the time the breach happened.

* Check out this video clip from NBC5 of the police push-back. It’s mostly reporters in front of the cops…

Another angle from Fox 32…

* The Tribune assigned four reporters…

The day was marred by only one fairly minor skirmish. As protest leaders kept marching later in the afternoon, several protesters broke down the first barrier of the security perimeter along Washington Boulevard just north of the United Center. They faced the police officers in a line, shouting, “Quit your job! Quit your job!”

Officers moved in and formed several lines of defense where the fence was down, while some protesters could be seen throwing their wooden signs at the police. Other officers in riot gear came in from behind the protesters and corralled them back into the park using batons, to keep the situation from escalating.

The police put the broken pieces of the fence back into place, then lined up facing the wall of people. […]

Billed as the March on the DNC 2024, organizers said more than 250 separate groups were part of the demonstration. Rally programming in Union Park kicked off around 12:30 p.m. before a crowd of about 2,000 people, including scores of credentialed journalists.

* AP…

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said some of the protesters who took down the fence threw water bottles and other items at police. Police de-escalated the situation without using their batons or chemicals, he said.

“When you have people infiltrate a crowd and they want to commit acts of violence, vandalism we are going to stop them,” said Snelling, who walked in a group of officers ahead of the protesters Monday. “We are not going to tolerate anyone who is going to vandalize things in our city.”

Members of the crowd chanted “End the occupation now” and then “The whole world is watching!” just as anti-Vietnam War protesters did during the infamous 1968 convention in Chicago when police clashed with protesters on live television.

* I posted this yesterday, but one of the defining moments of yesterday’s protest was when the marchers had to pause so they could ask reporters to please get the heck out of their way…

lol pic.twitter.com/TiYIlBQfT8

— Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) August 19, 2024

* I wonder who got that fence contract…

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) shared his thoughts after protesters broke through the security perimeter.

“We were briefed on the security at the convention multiple times by homeland security, CPD, FBI and so forth. This was what we were told was unscalable, unbreachable fencing. This isn’t supposed to be happening.”

* All that being said, this is next…

Another big concern Tuesday night is a protest planned outside the Israeli Consulate. That protest is not permitted by the city.

* More…

* Protests threaten to overshadow DNC: The large number of demonstrators anticipated in the city has already evoked comparisons to the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which was also held in Chicago and saw large numbers of protesters clash with police.

* As the DNC in Chicago again sees large protests, a new generation of demonstrators finds inspiration in the past: Michael James, now 82 years old, recalled the police crackdown on those protests, telling CBS News, “It was basically an attack.” James can be seen in a famous photograph of protesters surrounding a police van.

* Fox News: Chicago DNC protests to put Illinois’ no-cash-bail law to the ultimate test

[Headline explained here.]

…Adding… Hope nobody is disappointed…

The protest zone Chicago set up for the DNC is totally dead today.

A few dozen cops, several journalists, but zero protesters were there around 1:15 pm today. The city gave protesters a make-shift stage & big speakers. Twenty-nine groups signed up for spots this week. pic.twitter.com/1V5Kt6nlcM

— Jake Sheridan (@JakeSheridan_) August 20, 2024