Pro-Hamas crowd clashes with riot police and burns American flags in violent scenes near Democratic convention
Pro-Hamas protesters stormed the Israeli consulate in Chicago on Tuesday night, wearing black riot gear and cursing the Jewish people before burning an American flag.
The event marks the second consecutive day of anti-Israel and anti-DNC protests in the Windy City.
The group was part of the “Make it Great Like ’68!” protest announced during the first day of anti-DNC demonstrations.
The anti-Israel rally was billed as a way to “close the DNC to Gaza.”
Video footage from the event shows a violent and angry crowd of protesters aggressively confronting police, shouting in their faces in an attempt to stoke tension.
Protesters burn a flag at the Israeli consulate during the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, in Chicago. Some protesters were later arrested
Protesters pushed police onto the sidewalk as chaos escalated Tuesday night
Eventually, a group of activists formed a circle, placed an American flag on the concrete, doused it with flammable liquid, and set the flag on fire, as police, media, and pedestrians watched.
Footage of the chaos shows a man approaching the group of spectators trying to save Old Glory from a hellish end.
His efforts were thwarted by protesters who prevented him from retrieving the American flag.
As the chaos continued, police arrived on the scene to quell the protest.
Video footage shows agitated activists attacking the officers, shouting at them and praising the Palestinian war effort.
Later, the protesters became even more violent, pushing the police onto the sidewalk.
A protester is arrested by police near the Israeli consulate during the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 in Chicago
The media were in the middle of the clash between protesters and police, a member of the press can be seen above running as a police officer stumbles
Protesters fell to the ground after clash with police in riot gear
The second day of protests on Tuesday attracted far fewer activists than Monday
Additional police units were deployed, equipped with riot gear, helmets with face shields and additional bulletproof vests.
The confrontation led to a number of arrests and police arrested several activists.
It was the second straight day that protests in Chicago led to arrests.
On Monday, thousands of protesters descended on the city for the ‘March on the DNC.’
The event drew so many people that hundreds of police officers were deployed to contain the demonstrations should they fail, which they did.
On Monday night, protesters were arrested after crossing the outer boundaries of the Democratic National Convention.
Dozens of police officers in riot gear eventually pushed the protesters off the broken barricade and repaired it, while the remaining activists left the scene.
Chicago police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.