60 anti-Israel protesters arrested after second night of DNC descends into chaos

CHICAGO – Chicago police arrested about 60 anti-Israel protesters – many of them from out of state – on the second night of the Democratic National Convention when an illegal march following a protest rally outside the Israeli consulate turned violent.

“Last night was a danger to our city and a danger to our citizens in this city,” Chicago Police Commissioner Larry Snelling said at a news conference about the mass arrest order issued after de-escalation tactics failed Tuesday night.

“We did not initiate the violence, but we responded to it. Our officers responded exactly as they were trained to do,” he said.

Scores of protesters, many of them covering their faces with keffiyeh scarves, burned flags and clashed with police on the city's streets after ignoring calls to disperse the protests.

They chanted slogans such as “Down with American imperialism” and “Killer Kamala, what do you say? How many children have you killed today?”

As protesters broke through dozens of police in riot gear near the Israeli consulate, the mob chanted: “CPD, KKK, IOF, they are all the same!”

Snelling said those arrested face a range of charges, including disturbing the peace, obstruction of justice, assault on police officers and “a lot more.”

Twenty-two of the approximately 60 people arrested were troublemakers who lived outside Chicago, many of them from the West Coast, Snelling said.

One of the local protesters, 50-year-old Mike Lehman, held a sign that read, “Make Israel pay all the costs of its war killings now.”

When asked what Democrats should do if they remain in the White House in 2024, Lehman said, “Crack down hard.”

“You’re an asshole in a country the size of Indiana and you’re telling us what to do?” he said of Israel.

Two detainees were treated at a nearby hospital and released. One complained of knee pain and another had suffered a finger injury.

Two CPD officers also suffered minor injuries but declined medical treatment “because they wanted to stay there and continue working to keep the city safe,” Snelling said.

“I know everyone wants to believe we can de-escalate any situation and get away unscathed. There are people for whom that is not an option,” he said of the need for police to use “proportionate” force to quell the emerging hostilities.

“We tried to avoid the collision, but to no avail. CPD will not run away. We will not stand by and allow our officers to be attacked, because an officer who cannot protect himself cannot protect this city. Enough is enough.”

Snelling particularly highlighted the pro-Israel counter-demonstrators, whom he praised as “peaceful” and cooperative and who left the area without incident when asked to do so by police.

Snelling said he was not only violent, but also appalled by how often anti-Israel protesters hurled hateful and sexually charged comments at many female police officers.

“The vicious, disgusting and sexually explicit things that were said to these women were absolutely disgusting,” he said, adding that he was immensely proud of the officers who remained calm in the face of this disgusting provocation.

“They stood their ground and did what they had to do. They didn't overreact, they didn't take the bait. They kept fighting, like they were taught to do.”

As for the expected resurgence of street protests on the third day of the DNC, Snelling insisted that the department treats all groups that legally exercise their First Amendment rights in exactly the same way until they cross the border.

“We will not allow people to come into this city, disrespect it and destroy it,” Snelling said emphatically.

“We hope people see that the CPD is prepared, ready, willing and able to defend this city.”