As Democrats flock to Chicago this week for what they hope will be a triumphant Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will officially launch their 2024 campaign. But if they were hoping for smooth sailing, they might want to brace themselves for the storm about to hit.

The city is buzzing, but not just with excitement—there’s also the not-so-subtle rumbling of dissent, and it’s coming from within their ranks.

Now, you’d think the Democrats would have learned a thing or two from history. After all, Chicago isn’t exactly a stranger to hosting chaotic conventions. Flashback to 1968, and you’ll remember the Democratic National Convention that quickly spiraled into violence, tarnishing the party’s image.

Well, it looks like history might repeat itself. Tens of thousands of activists are descending upon the Windy City, not to cheer on their party’s nominees but to raise hell about the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

From The Hill:
Tens of thousands of activists are expected to protest in Chicago this week, threatening to overshadow the Democratic National Convention as the party looks to rally around its newly minted presidential ticket…

Chicago political operative Victor Reyes suggested if the protesters this week “are hell-bent on creating chaos and getting arrests and disrupting it and creating mayhem — if they’re intent on that, and some are, then it could overshadow the actual convention.”

What’s deliciously ironic here is that these protesters are targeting none other than Kamala Harris herself, the very woman who’s supposed to unite the party and lead them into the next election. Harris has been facing hecklers at her rallies, and now, these anti-Israel protests could hijack the entire convention, turning it from a celebration into a full-blown PR disaster.

Let’s not sugarcoat it—Harris’ campaign is already on shaky ground. She’s got a reputation for gaffes and a less-than-stellar track record as vice president. The last thing she needs is her own party’s progressive wing, making her look weak and out of touch. But that’s exactly what’s happening. The protesters aren’t just some fringe group; they represent a significant faction of the Democratic Party that’s fed up with what they see as the administration’s betrayal of progressive values.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a progressive darling, is now stuck in a tough spot. On the one hand, he needs to protect the protesters’ right to free speech (a right the left only seems to care about when it’s convenient for them). On the other hand, he’s got to keep things from spiraling into chaos that could make Chicago 1968 look like a tea party. Johnson says he’s confident that the protests will remain peaceful, but let’s be honest—anything can happen when you’ve got thousands of angry activists in one place.

Moreover, this isn’t just about many protesters waving signs and chanting slogans. The stakes are much higher than that. These protests could define Harris’ campaign well before it even gets off the ground. If the demonstrations turn violent or become the dominant narrative of the convention, it could spell disaster for Harris and the Democratic Party as a whole. Imagine trying to rally the American people around a candidate whose own party can’t even keep it together at their most significant event of the year.

And then there’s the message these protests send to the rest of the country. The Democrats love to portray themselves as the party of unity and progress, but this week, they will be anything but. With the anti-Israel sentiment running high among the protesters, Harris and her team will be walking a tightrope. She has to appease the progressive base without alienating moderate voters, who might not be thrilled about tearing down our relationship with one of our closest allies.

Ultimately, the Democratic National Convention might be less of a celebration and more of a cautionary tale. For Kamala Harris, this could be the week that defines her campaign—for better or worse. And for the rest of us watching from the sidelines, it’s a reminder that building your platform on shaky ground doesn’t take much to bring the whole thing crashing down.

Key Takeaways:

• Anti-Israel protests are set to overshadow the Democratic National Convention, putting Kamala Harris’ campaign in jeopardy.
• The protests echo the chaotic 1968 convention, raising concerns about potential unrest and a fractured party.
• Harris faces the challenge of balancing the demands of her progressive base with the need to appeal to moderate voters.

Source: The Hill