Pro-Palestinian protesters in Chicago were seen attempting to burn an American flag on Tuesday evening, before a man stepped in to try and stop them.
Hundreds marched in the city’s downtown as the second night of the Democratic National Convention was underway a few miles away. After starting at the Israeli Consulate, protesters calling for the U.S. to withdraw its support for Israel in the war in Gaza moved through the streets.
A mixed Israel-American flag was thrown onto the street and set on fire. As it burned, someone threw an American flag on top of it.
In a video Brendan Gutenschwager posted on X, formerly Twitter, a man is seen trying to grab the American flag. Protesters then shoved him away
“Don’t burn the American flag,” the man said. “It’s our country… You guys are the enemy.”
A protester then is heard screaming, “burn it down.” After the man walked away, the protesters lit the flag on fire.
“This is what we think of your f—-ing flag,” one person said as the flag burned. “The only acceptable American flag is one that is burned to char.”
The man who stepped in was independent journalist Ben Bergquam, who posted to X saying he could not sit back and watch the flag be burned.
The protests outside the DNC over the Israel-Gaza war have escalated and police have had to install additional security fences early Tuesday after demonstrators breached an outer fence. Protests outside the Israeli Consulate turned violent on Tuesday with protesters clashing with police. Thirteen people were arrested on Monday night and at least one person appeared to be detained by police on Tuesday night, according to CNN.
Monday’s charges range from criminal trespass to aggravated battery of police officers. Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling defended the department’s handling of protests and said police officers “responded perfectly.” He added that the department has “bodycam footage to prove it.”
“We have no idea what they would have done had they gotten onto the other side. But as I’ve said before, we’re not going to tolerate anyone who is going to vandalize things in our city. We are not going to tolerate anyone who (is) going to commit acts of violence,” Snelling said, according to CNN.
The DNC hosted its first Palestinian panel on Monday and President Joe Biden said protesters have “a point” during his Monday address because “a lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.”
Update 08/20/2024 10:31 p.m.: This article has been updated with more information.
