Chicago police arrested 13 protesters during first day of Democratic convention

The Chicago police department on Tuesday confirmed it arrested 13 protesters during the first day of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, with most being arrested for briefly breaching a security fence near the convention.

The protests outside of the convention site were much smaller than organizers initially believed, with estimates claiming only 3,500 people showed up. The number was far less than the 20,000 predicted. More protests are expected to continue through the remainder of the convention, which ends Thursday.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said most of the protests were peaceful, but that the breach of a security fence got heated on Monday night. Some of the demonstrators clashed with police officers, used pepper spray against them, and threw water bottles at the police, per the Associated Press.

“Our officers showed great restraint,” Snelling said at a news conference. “We’re not going to tolerate vandalism and violence in our city. ... We’re going to continue to protect the city.”

Authorities said thousands of anti-Israel demonstrators gathered at a park located a block from the United Center, where the convention is taking place. Several dozen protesters then separated from the group and broke through the fencing, before being stopped by Chicago police.  The inner security perimeter of the convention was not breached by protesters.

The 13 protesters have been charged with criminal trespassing, resisting and obstructing an arrest, or aggravated battery of police officers, depending on the case. Ten of the arrests were related to the fence.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.