Chicago clears prisons and barricades businesses to prepare for possible protests during DNC

According to several reports, the city of Chicago is preparing for mass arrests and protests ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which begins on Monday. Prisons are being cleared and facilities are being barricaded.

According to a press release, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced in July that courthouses would be prepared for mass arrests in the wake of protests surrounding the DNC. In case the protests turn violent, several local businesses are blocking doors and windows with plywood to prevent possible destruction, WGN Chicago reported.

“We know from past experience that something could happen, so we want to be proactive and get ahead of it,” Scott Shapiro, the owner of a men's clothing store in Chicago, told WGN Chicago.

Judge Evans stated in the July press release that the court would remain open from 8 a.m. to midnight to process cases. (RELATED: Delegate withdraws from DNC after police arrest him at protest rally and bodycam footage released)

“We have been meeting with more than 50 people from county, city, state and federal agencies for weeks to prepare for the possibility of multiple arrests,” Evans said in the release. “We want to ensure that police can focus on ensuring safety and that the rights of those arrested are diligently respected. We thank our government colleagues and our court personnel for their continued cooperation in this important endeavor.”

People walk past a screen outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, August 15, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the party's nomination for president at the DNC, which will be held August 19-22 in Chicago. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

The Cook County District Court announced that judges had also removed all “non-essential court hearings” from their schedules in preparation for the protesters, the press release said. The court has a separate plan in place in case of a potential overload and said those arrests would then be handled by Chicago police.

The Coalition to March on the DNC is an organization of about 200 anti-Israel groups that plans to begin protesting on Monday, the Washington Post reported. The group received a permit for the protests and the city government reversed an earlier decision to ban loudspeaker systems and portable toilets.

According to the Washington Post, a pro-Israel group is also planning to protest amid the pro-Palestinian groups. The city of Chicago initially denied the pro-Israel group a permit, citing “interference.” However, he later revised his decision and allowed him to remain on the podium for a short time.

“We hope the police are safe,” Evans said in a PBS interview Tuesday. “We hope everything goes well, but in the event that there are mass arrests, we have issued an order setting up a facility … specifically for such cases.”

“We don’t want judges to burn out,” Evans said in the interview.

The Democratic Party Convention is scheduled to take place from August 19 to 22.

The Cook County District Court did not immediately respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation's request for comment.

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