Chicago, IL — The second, third and fourth nights of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) were marked by loud demonstrations near key locations. While the demonstrations do not typically involve large groups, they somewhat surprised the massive congressional police force and made a loud message.
One march gathered outside the Salt Shed DNC party venue in West Town on Tuesday night. Another started around 1:20 a.m. Thursday morning at where Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris was staying, about a block south of the cordoned-off area around the Ritz-Carlton along Chicago’s upscale Michigan Avenue Magnificent Mile business district. After the last night of the DNC at the Ramova Theater, where T-Pain performed, pro-Palestinian crowds were loudly present until about 1:15 a.m.
Noise demonstrations are a common tactic for bringing messages into buildings. We have reported on events like this one outside prisons on New Year’s Eve aimed at supporting prisoners. This type of demonstration is intended to break the everyday silence of institutional spaces – like many other types of protest tactics, it could “annoying” as a random passerby snickered, but the excitement it causes makes it difficult to simply ignore. (It also highlights an often-overlooked difference between efforts to address issues by making a ruckus and drawing direct attention to them, and electoral and persuasion campaigns that focus narrowly on garnering support.)
Police suppress noise demonstration in Loop Near North
Following the third day of the DNC and a large Palestine march, the noise demonstration took place in the heart of the luxurious Near North neighborhood in Streeterville.
Some of the exclusive cocktail bars were bustling with activity, and security guards could be heard haggling with idling ride-sharing drivers as they made their rounds.
The demo appeared at around 1:20 a.m. Thursday morning at the corner of Michigan and Ontario Avenue with large banners, banging pots and shouting into megaphones, on the corner of a Burberry luxury store.
About 30 to 40 police officers responded by setting up a security ring at the intersection, giving inaudible instructions to disperse and forcing everyone onto the sidewalks. Commanders in green vests directed bicycle units and about 25 police officers on foot to prevent the march from moving west onto Michigan Avenue or north toward the hotel. About 10 independent journalists documented the event. The protesters held this area for less than half an hour before being pushed south by police.
At first, a police cordon prevented anyone from going south or east, but an operations officer opened an exit to the east. Most of the protesters began moving south on the east side of the Michigan Avenue sidewalk. The group of about 30 police officers continuously shouted at the protesters to keep moving back, while the crowd linked arms and tried not to run from the police. Building security guards and some night-time conventioneers peered out from fancy hotel lobbies adorned with DNC decorations. A line of bike cops along the curb kept the protesters back on the east side sidewalk.
We asked one of the police commanders in a green vest how far this push was supposed to go – was it a specific distance or just a direction or vector? They replied that they were trying to disperse the group. We pointed out that the bike cops were preventing anyone from dispersing to the west, so the commander was actually crowding the protesters rather than dispersing them, but got no answer. One participant suggested there were three to five arrests, but the number was unclear – some events occurred around corners to the east where we couldn’t see.
Throughout the entire process, the most noticeable source of noise was the sound of a plastic flute-like recorder, a powerful screeching instrument familiar to anyone who took music lessons in elementary school in the 1990s. The recorder player declined to be interviewed.
After moving at an enforced walking pace for several blocks, protesters were pushed south across the Chicago River Plaza near the riverfront Apple Store and the Michigan Avenue Bridge, with some participants urging others not to ride with their backs against bike racks or other hard obstacles.
Police pushed protesters across Wacker Drive on the south bank of the river and then stopped abruptly at that corner. The noise demonstration continued for about 20 minutes more, then slowly dissipated and the police formation gradually disbanded around 3 a.m.
It seemed obvious that, similar to the large demonstrations during the 2020 unrest surrounding the killing of George Floyd, the Chicago River was once again being used as a checkpoint to contain protests in the city. For a time, police also blocked pedestrians from walking north and a photographer from crossing south from the bridge into the area of the noise demo at the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Dr.
Police have moved into the area in large numbers, while protesters chant slogans near where Vice President Harris was reportedly located. pic.twitter.com/mLCp5f3NPZ
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) 22 August 2024
Salt Shed Noise Demo meets DNC Delegate Party on second night
On Tuesday night, Democratic delegates headed to the Salt Shed, a large riverfront concert hall in the West Town neighborhood northeast of the Loop. Shortly after 11 p.m., a group of a few dozen protesters snaked through gardens and busy parking lots to march north and south along the bike path on Elston Avenue in front of the Salt Shed, carrying a large banner demanding Palestinian rights.
The party was hosted by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker, and John Legend performed. About 120 Illinois State Patrol and Chicago Police officers formed a security ring around the protesters; our reporters saw no arrests. Police blocked access to the west sidewalk on Elston Avenue, but neither city nor state police issued an explanation as to what justified the sidewalk closure.
Despite its modest size, the noise demonstration made an impression on the thousands of delegates and Democratic Party officials who all had to pass it to enter or leave the festivities. Buses and vans packed with people slowly drove up the northbound lane, trying to catch up with vehicles as they sped away. Some looked on anxiously, others took photos and videos.
Our live video of the event posted on Instagram:
Noise demonstration outside the DNC delegate party in Chicago
On Thursday night, after the convention ended, some protesters harassed delegates and attendees walking toward Union Park. Late Thursday and Friday morning, a large DNC party featuring T-Pain took place further south at the Ramova Theater, where hundreds of protesters held a raucous demonstration. The crowd marched off around 1:20 a.m., and one attendee told us it started before midnight. Our 50-minute livestream is here.
Coverage of the 2024 DNC protests
Chicago DNC met with thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters
Chicago firefighters protest for new contract at DNC 2024
Palestine supporters protest outside the Israeli consulate on the second day of the Chicago convention, dozens arrested
March for Palestine on Day 3 of the DNC
Last day of protests against the Democratic Party Convention in Chicago
Our 2024 RNC coverage: Police model “Mobile Field Force” funded for Republican National Convention in Milwaukee | RNC opens in Milwaukee with protest march | RNC protesters talk about immigration, LGBT rights, climate, Palestine and more
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