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A heavy police presence escorted pro-Israel demonstrators out of the park, while pro-Palestinian protesters, including families from Chicago‘s southwest suburbs, gathered to express their views.The crowd chanted, “The whole world is watching,” as they marched peacefully.
Raed Shuk, a 48-year-old protester, brought his children to the rally, emphasizing the importance of peaceful protest and standing up for rights. “This is about teaching my children to address humanity equally,” Shuk was quoted as saying by AP.
Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate, attended the rally and criticized the police’s handling of the protests. “This is an absolute intimidation of the American people to silence our protest,” Stein said, denouncing the use of force.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling defended the police response, explaining that Tuesday night’s arrests were due to protesters intending to commit violence and vandalism. He commended his officers for maintaining control despite facing aggressive behavior from the crowd. “We wanted to overwhelm those people who decided to come to our city and destroy it,” Snelling said, denying accusations of excessive force.
The protests, part of a series of demonstrations related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, have been a regular occurrence at the Israeli Consulate since October. Wednesday’s rallies, while mostly peaceful, highlighted the deep divisions and intense emotions surrounding the issue.
Wednesday’s rallies saw a substantial police presence as officers tried to manage the protests. Despite efforts to maintain peace, minor injuries and several arrests underscored the tense atmosphere.
The most significant protest to date, attracting around 3,500 people on Monday, remained relatively peaceful with only 13 arrests related to a security breach. Similarly, Sunday’s march resulted in just two arrests.
