(The Center Square) – Pro-Palestinian protestors briefly breached metal anti-scale fencing surrounding the United Center on Monday during an afternoon march.
The Chicago Police Department said protestors breached the outer perimeter, but never got through the inner perimeter or endangered anyone inside the Democratic National Convention. Police officials said officers were immediately on the scene.
Video shows whole sections of snap-together iron fencing taken down and dragged away by protestors. Within minutes, Chicago police broke out riot gear and swarmed the area, arresting protestors trying to get inside the arena.
The group March on the DNC 2024 got a permit for a rally at Union Park in Chicago and a march past the United Center. The breach happened during the march. Most of the demonstrators were peaceful.
Police said the Democratic National Convention includes a multilayered approach to security that includes the outer perimeter fence.
Work crews added additional fencing near the site of the Democratic National Convention after the breach.
At the rally, several thousand people carried signs, and many wore scarves and other items to show their support for Palestinians.
Nesreen Hasan, of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, said President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats were responsible for the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the death of tens of thousands of residents.
The Chicago Tribune reported four to six people were arrested.
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