DNC protesters have already won
Rancor cannot be regulated
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The fact that the Chicago Police Department has backed off its original plan to distance possible protesters from the Democratic Committee Convention and are now negotiating with a contingent of would-be protesters indicates the protesters have already won-and the convention is still two months away. Initially, CPD and city officials suggested a designated route miles away from the United Center where most of the DNC activities will occur. Officials pushed that area under the guise of “safety.”
The tremendous irony there was officials were ignoring the fact they were operating on conjecture and had no real idea how many protesters would be involved, and what causes would be protested. The other reality they were burying their collective head in the sand about is a CNN survey that shows 93 percent of protests in the US. are peaceful.
Of course, there were rumblings about the DNC Convention here more than 50 years ago in 1968 when Vietnam, Black Power and assorted other dissidents brawled with thousands of city and state cops in Grant Park.
Regardless of any deal that CPD strikes with whomever is at the table negotiating, doesn’t preclude others from deciding they still want to protest as close to the United Center as possible. CPD is behaving as thought the rancor and anger, on any level, can be negotiated and controlled. For months, CPD Superintendent has been answering reporters’ questions about preparedness with a simple “we’re ready.” He also maintains there has and is training connected with the convention. Negotiating now with would-be protestors says otherwise. One would think this so-called training would be all-encompassing and the officers would be prepared for nearly every possible scenario-again negotiating says otherwise. Declaring that arrests will be a last resort seems like it would incentivize, rather than deter protestors.
Mayor Brandon Johnson repeatedly proclaims his bona fides as an organizer and one who has led protests. Apparently, just like the protests when teens take over Michigan Avenue or downtown streets, Johnson will be MIA regarding convention protests. A reigning joke on some social media platforms is “unlike ‘68, this time the mayor will be on the side of the protestors.”
No one should be surprised when the negotiations and alleged training go by the wayside and Chicago becomes a symbol of Mike Tyson, the boxer’s statement. “everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”