CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Protesters remained at a sit-in outside the site of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, a day after they say Palestinian voices were blocked from speaking there the night before.
NewsNation correspondent Joe Khalil reports a group of demonstrators told him they had been outside the United Center all night. Some had signs with phrases such as “Not Another Bomb,” as well as ones urging for a U.S. arms embargo on Israel.
“Uncommitted” delegates demanded a Palestinian speaker be allowed to address the crowd from the convention’s main stage the night before. Their sit-in started after families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza spoke during Wednesday’s program.
“We know the one thing that can most immediately release pressure and bring calm to the entire region: A deal that brings this diverse group of 109 hostages home and ends the suffering of the innocent civilians in Gaza,” said Jon Polin. His son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is one of those being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas.
No Palestinian Americans have been allowed to speak, causing protest organizers and Democratic lawmakers such as Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn to say party leaders are stifling their voices. They have pointed out that the Chicago area’s Palestinian community is among the largest in the country.
Whether their message landed with delegates remains unclear, as people leaving the convention appeared to ignore protesters near the United Center, even as some shouted the names of children who died in Israel’s bombardment.
Over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the Israeli offensive launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people.
Another large march is set for Thursday as Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is set to take the stage in the evening. Wednesday night’s demonstration was largely peaceful, even though the day before there had been clashes between police and protesters that led to dozens of arrests.
NewsNation’s Nick Smith and The Associated Press contributed to this report.