The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago, expecting to draw thousands of people to the city from Monday, Aug.19 to Thursday, Aug. 22. The four-day event marks Chicago’s 26th political convention.

The DNC will include evening events at the United Center and daytime Democratic Party activities at McCormick Place. Both members of the Democratic Party and protestors from across the country are expected to gather during the convention. 

Who will attend?

The Democratic National Convention will host thousands of attendees, including state delegates, party and elected officials, media and guests including celebrities and activists. 

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominees for president and vice president of the United States, will attend to speak and officially accept their nominations. 

Some scheduled DNC speakers include President Biden, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. 

During the convention, delegates will vote to officially select and nominate the Democratic party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The convention will also provide more perspective into Harris’ political views on issues such as reproductive rights and immigration. 

“We have this really interesting and different kind of circumstance where we don’t have this two-year campaign. She has three months,” said Robert Watkins, associate professor at the School of Communication, Culture and Society. The DNC is going to be one of the first times where she’s going to introduce herself and set up perceptions of her for the country.” 

Will there be protests? 

Yes. Protests are scheduled for the first, third and last day of the convention, specifically in accordance with the scheduled acceptance speeches of both Walz and Harris. 

The March on the DNC, a coalition of over 200 organizations from across the country, plan to hold two demonstrations during the convention. The marches are scheduled for Aug. 19 and Aug. 22, with rallies taking place at Union Park. 

Among the organizations, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), college campus groups will also be marching at the convention. Columbia College has an SJP chapter.

Why protest at the DNC?

Various groups are using DNC as a platform to express concerns for issues that matter to them such as “police crimes, immigrant rights, workers’ rights, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights and so forth,” said Angel Naranjo, a member of the SDS at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Naranjo said that the SDS groups will promote their principles of anti-war and peace. “The main thing we’re demanding right now is free Palestine, an end to the genocide in Gaza and an end to USA aid to Israel,” Naranjo said.

He said his organization, along with others, would specifically be protesting on Aug. 19 and Aug. 22 outside of the United Center. 

“If history has taught us anything, it is that change is going to come from within the Democratic Party. It’s not going to come from within the Republican Party,” the sophomore said, “It’s going to come from the streets. It’s going to come from us putting demands on these institutions and fighting for it.”

Will the DNC affect travel time?

Potentially. The DNC will include street closures around both the United Center and McCormick Place areas. 

United Center Street Closures begin on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. 

• Damen Ave. from Jackson Blvd. to W. Washington Blvd.
• W. Washington Blvd. from Damen Ave. to S. Wood St.
• W. Warren Blvd. from N. Leavitt St. to S. Paulina St.  
• W. Madison St. from N. Leavitt St. to S. Paulina St.  
• W. Monroe St. from S. Seeley Ave. to S. Paulina St.  
• W. Adams St. from S. Seeley Ave. to S. Paulina St.  
• S. Horner St. from W. Monroe St. to W. Adams St.  
• S. Wood St. from W. Washington Blvd. to W. Jackson Blvd. 
• S. Seeley Ave. from W. Madison St. to W. Adams St.  

McCormick Place Street Closures begin on Friday, Aug. 16 at 10 p.m. 

• Indiana Ave. from 18th to E. 24th Place. 
• Michigan Ave. from 21st to 25th St.  
• Cermak Road from Wabash Ave. to MLK Drive.
• 23rd St. from Wabash Ave. to Indiana Ave.
• Prairie Ave. from Cullerton St. to 24th Place.
• 24th St. from Wabash Ave. to Indiana Ave.
• Calumet Ave. from Cullerton St. to 24th Place.
• 24th Place from Wabash Ave. to MLK Drive.
• MLK Drive from Cermak Road to 25th St.
• E. 21st St. from S. Michigan Avenue to S. Calumet Avenue.
• E. 21st St. is open from west of S. Michigan Avenue to S. Wabash Ave. and E. 21st St. 

CTA delays and reroutes are also expected during the convention. 

Columbia campus building will additionally be closed from Aug.19 to Aug. 23 for the DNC. Usual building hours resume Saturday, Aug. 24. 

Copy edited by Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez