The Democratic National Convention, scheduled to take place in Chicago from August 19-22, is expected to be marked by protests against Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza. The protests are primarily targeting the Biden administration's unconditional support for Israel. Demonstrators will be marching to demand an end to U.S. arms shipments to Israel, a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and the removal of all barriers to humanitarian aid.
With Biden withdrawing his candidacy, Vice President Kamala Harris has stepped up as the Democrats' presidential nominee, selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Both Harris and Walz will officially have their nominations confirmed at the convention.
The Democrats experienced a similar scenario back in 1968. Then, Democratic President Lyndon Johnson was the target of intense protests due to the Vietnam War. As a result, Johnson announced he would not seek re-election, and Vice President Hubert Humphrey became the Democratic nominee. The August 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago was marred by violent clashes, leading to the arrest of hundreds of protesters, seven of whom served prison sentences for inciting riots. The trial of these seven protesters was the focus of the 2020 film "The Trial of the Chicago 7."
Now, Biden's Israel policy casts a shadow over the upcoming convention in Chicago, a region with a significant Palestinian population. Additionally, Biden's candidacy has faced strong opposition in states with large Arab-American communities. In the primaries held in these states, hundreds of thousands of Democratic voters protested Biden's candidacy. Not only Arab and Muslim voters but also younger Democrats took to the streets to demand an end to unconditional support for Israel.
Polls indicate that a majority of Democratic voters share the sentiments of the protesters. The Biden administration's continued arms shipments to Israel, ignoring grassroots demands, has sparked questions about the state of American democracy. The disproportionate influence of the "Israel Lobby" over the U.S. Congress has also been widely debated.
Biden's unwavering support for Israel is alienating young Democrats and Arab-Americans, causing divisions within the party. His occasional criticisms of Israel have amounted to nothing more than empty murmurs. On August 13, the Biden administration approved another $20 billion in military aid to Israel, including 50 "F-15A" fighter jets, revealing its true policy, despite Israel killing more than 40 Palestinians, mostly children and women.
Biden’s decision not to run for re-election gives him more freedom in his Israel policy, but instead of using his power to rein in Israel, he is doing the opposite. Without significant pressure from the U.S., Netanyahu is killing more Palestinians. In doing so, Biden is also putting Harris in a difficult position. He may not even care if Harris loses. Similarly, in 1968, when Lyndon Johnson was forced to withdraw from the presidential race, he struggled to accept Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s candidacy.
Months ago, Senator Bernie Sanders warned that Gaza would become “Biden’s Vietnam.” But now that Biden is no longer a candidate, Gaza will be "Harris's Vietnam." Meanwhile, Republicans and groups connected to the "Israel Lobby" are calling for the Chicago protests to be suppressed with force. The Democratic Party is now grappling with how to calm or manage the protesters.
In August 1968, the streets of Chicago echoed with the chants of anti-Vietnam War protesters: "The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!" In "Chicago 2024," tens of thousands of protesters are ready to raise their voices against Israel's atrocities.
The one topic Kamala Harris prefers to avoid these days is Israel's genocide in Gaza. The upcoming convention, set to take place under tight security, is shaping up to be the “Gaza Convention.” Harris will have to decide how much distance she wants to put between herself and Biden's pro-Israel policies. The protesters are not interested in talk; they are demanding immediate action.
