CHICAGO– Police have installed additional security fencing in a Chicago park where protesters clashed with police near the scene of the shooting. Democratic National Convention ahead of a second day of planned protests on Tuesday, including one in front of the Israeli consulate.
The park, located a block from the convention center, served as the destination for a march of thousands calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Several dozen activists split from the main group, the fence was broken, and were pushed back by police, resulting in several arrests.
Police were expected to provide an update on the number of arrests on Tuesday morning.
The Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild reported that 12 people were arrested Monday, with two requiring medical attention. Two people were also arrested on charges of destruction of property and resisting arrest during a protest march Sunday night.
Authorities said the security zone around the United Center was not breached and there was no danger to those attending the convention.
On Tuesday morning, additional fencing was installed at the park and the tall metal barriers were reinforced to prevent protesters from lifting and removing the panels in the future. There were no police or protesters present in the park early Tuesday morning.
Organizers had hoped that at least 20,000 people would attend Monday’s rally and march, but it appeared to be only a few thousand. City officials, however, declined to provide an estimate of the number of attendees.
Closer to downtown Chicago, security was tighter than usual — including police with guns slung over their bodies — outside the office building that houses the Israeli consulate and a major public transit hub. Metal barricades had been set up, and an officer said they were preparing for a 7 p.m. demonstration.
The consulate, located about two miles from the United Center, has been the site of numerous demonstrations since the war in Gaza began in October. It is located in a building connected to the Ogilvie Transportation Center, a major commuter rail station.
Most of the largest demonstrations have been organized by the Coalition to March on the DNC, which is focused on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. But smaller protests have also sprung up across the city, including disruptions of the convention’s welcome party at Navy Pier.