As Hamas sympathizers descended on the DNC, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) spoke to the “privilege” amid threats.
The stage was set for a tumultuous week in the Windy City as estimates forecast around 100,000 protesters were expected to participate in marches, rallies, and ravings throughout the Democratic National Convention schedule.
After reports indicated the city had endeavored to reject protest permits, so much so that lawsuits from the likes of the ACLU were filed, Johnson was singing a different tune about welcoming “dissent” during an appearance on ABC News’s “This Week.”
ABC News reporter Martha Raddatz brought up Hizzoner’s prompt endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris following the end of President Joe Biden’s campaign as a segue into the extreme opposition Democrats have felt from within their own ranks over any compromise that favored the Jewish state in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Referring to it as “tremendous excitement,” the mayor was cited by Fox News as saying, “It’s a privilege to be able to bring their grievances to this, to the leadership and for our party to respond.”
Ahead of the Democratic National Convention, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says there is “tremendous excitement” about Vice Pres. Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz being at the top of the ticket. https://t.co/Z01gmD25Gv pic.twitter.com/td79ExIDK8
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 18, 2024
“She selected an amazing human being, Gov. Walz, a former social studies teacher like myself. So just a shout out to all of our public school teachers around America. So, absolutely, there’s a great deal of excitement. Now, as far as, you know, who will provide some dissent to ensure that the voices of individuals who want the government to be better — look that’s gonna happen — and in fact, you know,” said Johnson, “we support the First Amendment, and we have to make sure that we protect the rights of individuals.”
That supposed support was not without disagreement from the public as it was reported that businesses in the area boarded up their establishments in preparation for violent activism. The city itself was said to have planned for the likelihood of mass arrests as judges cleared schedules of “non-essential court proceedings” and room was made in the jails.
Meanwhile, as the city braced for the potential of a repeat of the chaos that surrounded the 1968 nominating convention with the U.S. Secret Service having “provided over 400 hours of training to officers specifically for this event,” attendees were warned in advance to book their hotel accommodations under assumed names for their own safety.
Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez (D) spoke to Johnson’s selective support of the First Amendment on “America Reports” as he told Fox News anchors John Roberts and Sandra Smith, “We have a mayor who’s openly encouraging those protesters to descend upon the city of Chicago.”
“Well, I think definitely, John, we are expecting protests to come because we have a mayor who’s openly encouraging those protesters to descend upon the City of Chicago,” said Lopez. “And while we may not have the same statues to grease up because Columbus and others have been removed by our previous mayor, we do know that there are many individuals who are working hand-in-glove with the mayor of the City of Chicago to bring protest directly to the United Center.”
“And he’s not just allowing all protesters, but select protesters. Like, for example,” said the alderman, “he’s not allowing the pro-Israel demonstrators near the United Center, but he’s allowing those who are supportive of the Hamas actions to be close and vocal.”
(Video Credit: Fox News)
On the matter of the safety of lawmakers, delegates, and others attending the convention, Lopez noted, “I think that is a legitimate concern for some members of Democratic leadership who don’t want to be called out by being in the same hotel as some of the protesters.”
“But we also see in our central business district and in other neighborhoods where they’re already boarding up businesses, boarding up storefronts to protect themselves from any kind of future 2020-like damage and rioting and looting should things get out of hand,” he continued referencing the estimated $2 billion in damage across the nation from riots in the wake of the death of George Floyd in police custody. “And that is sending a very different message to many of our visitors coming to this convention.”
“On the one hand, you have the mayor saying, we can handle this,” said the official. “On the other, businesses are boarding up because they know we can’t. So we’re going to see how this pans out. But I hope that our neighborhoods and our police and everyone here are safe and that we put these individuals coming to wreak havoc in their place quickly.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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