Several protests expected throughout the week in Chicago as delegates descend on the city for the Democratic National Convention.
All six permitted protests planned for Monday through Thursday will begin at one central point: Union Park.
Located at 1501 W. Randolph St., Union Park consists of located on the Near West Side, approximately 0.6 miles from the primary convention site, the United Center. Bordered by Ashland Avenue, Washington Boulevard, and Lake and Randolph Streets, the park covers 13.77 acres and has several buildings, including a field house and various outdoor facilities, according to the Chicago Park District website.
On Friday, a coalition organizing protests struck a last-minute deal with city officials, meet many of the group’s requirements with a stage and sound system on site. The agreement includes a stage, a sound system and portable restrooms at Union Park. That does not include tents, which the city previously said could be used to hide the protesters’ activities.
Protesters said the deal was made possible because of a direct appeal to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was a union organizer before becoming a politician.
While three protests had taken place in the park as of Monday afternoon, others are still planned in the coming days.
The remaining schedule can be found below:
Monday, August 19
· 15.00 Collection | 16.00 Step-Off
o Route: 3015 W Division St, eastbound on Division to Damen, southbound on Damen to Maypole, eastbound on Maypole to Park 578. Disband by 6:00pm at Park 578.
o Permit seekers: Campaign for poor people’s human rights
Thursday, August 22
· 12.00 Collection | 14.00 Step-Off
o Route: Union Park to Park 578, follow the same route as above.
o Permit applicant: Chicago Alliance against Racist and Political Repression
· 17.00 Collection | 18.00 Step-Off
o Route: Union Park to Park 578, follow the same route as above.
o Permit applicants: March for the People’s Agenda