The next political powder keg? Feds reveal plan for security at DNC in Chicago

CHICAGO − Federal agents released their plans Thursday to police the upcoming Democratic National Convention at a highly-anticipated news conference where they revealed details about security, the thousands of officers expected to protect political leaders and the city's goals to prevent rioting among an expected crowd of 50,000.

The volatility that many fear during the Aug. 19 Democratic National Convention - massive protests, civil unrest, police overreaction to crowds - is amplified now by the dramatic turns of events in the last week after Joe Biden's dropping out of the presidential race. In an election year already historic amid an assassination attempt, Trump's felony conviction and Biden's disastrous debate, the DNC looms as the next possible powder keg.

Protesters of the war in Gaza alone told USA TODAY they expect tens of thousands of activists to be in Chicago for the convention.

“An incident like what took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, must never happen again,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Derek Mayer, adding the Chicago event will take place in a highly controlled environment. “We have reviewed the security plans and remain confident.”

The briefing was attended by numerous officials including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker - a potential pick for vice president. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Secret Service and FBI leaders also provided maps showing the perimeter of the areas that will be cordoned off during convention.

The size of the massive police perimeter "is based off a bomb assessment and blast radius," according to Chicago police Deputy Chief of Counter-Terrorism Duane DeVries.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the department’s officers have been training for over a year to prepare for the DNC and have been able to practice their crowd control tactics at over 80 protest events.

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“What we will not tolerate is vandalism, what we will not tolerate is violent activity, if we see that we will put a stop to that quickly,” the top cop said, adding there have not been any “major, major incidents” in the department’s response to protests over the past year. 

Whether and where the city will allow protest groups aiming to picket in front of Democratic officials has been a keen point of contention as authorities have denied them permits to march outside the convention hall. 

Tom Carney, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, said the city still has not resolved its negotiations with protest groups aiming to demonstrate outside the United Center but said “we are working through the court to allow them to protest within sight and sound of the convention center.”

Snelling confirmed they would not be allowed inside the Secret Service security perimeter.  

The Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention, one of the largest groups planning to protest the upcoming event, issued a statement avowing their intention to protest as long as the biggest issue for the group — Israel’s war in Gaza — remains unresolved. 

“On August 19th we will march on the DNC for Gaza regardless of who gets nominated for the presidency,” said spokesperson Hatem Abudayyeh in a statement where he also addressed Biden’s move to step aside. “His decision doesn't change the policies of Democratic Party leadership, specifically their support of the genocide in Palestine, so our movement must continue to apply pressure."

He added, "When it comes to the genocide in Gaza there is no difference between Biden, Harris, or any of the likely candidates for the nomination. They are all complicit. This is why the coalition will still be marching on the DNC in the tens of thousands."

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The coalition consists of over 100 organizations and has vowed to march right by the convention hall even though their protest has not received official approval from the city, which has tried to reroute them miles away.

The convention will be from Aug. 19 to 22 at the United Center stadium and at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Street closures around the home of the Chicago Bulls will begin Aug. 17 and remain in place through the 23rd; closures around the McCormick Place will begin Aug. 16, said 2024 DNC Coordinator Jeff Burnside. The security perimeter will extend a few blocks around the two locations. Only badged individuals will be able to enter the area.

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FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucas Rothaar acknowledged “we are living in an elevated threat environment,” but said there are no known threats to the event. He encouraged anyone with information about suspicious activity to report it.

Around 500 police officers from law enforcement agencies around Illinois and from Milwaukee will travel to Chicago to provide additional manpower, according to Chicago's top cop. The department's officers would have days off cancelled during the convention and would have their shifts by four additional hours to ensure adequate coverage around the city.

“We all should take comfort in having such a large force dedicated to our safety,” said Governor Pritzker, a vice presidential nomination hopeful. “With these security measures we should sleep soundly knowing how much has been done.”

Non-Chicago cops will receive a training in local tactics, Snelling added, and would not be deployed in areas where they would interact with city residents.

Similar promises were made for the Republican National Convention before a group of police officers from Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed a homeless man armed with a knife outside the security perimeter. The out-of-state officers came under fire from locals, who argued Milwaukee cops would have been better versed in city policies and would not have killed the man.

Chicago’s mayor highlighted the potential historic outcomes of the event. 

“So much has changed since the announcement of the Democratic National Convention coming to Chicago,” Johnson said. “Now Chicago is not just hosting another convention, we’re welcoming a new breath of life into our nation with the historic nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris.”

High-level officials told USA TODAY that the police presence will be not only visible, but likely undercover as well. Chicago police have a history of using undercover officers to monitor protest groups at major events. 

Alderman Chris Taliaferro, former chairman of the city’s Public Safety Committee, told USA TODAY that deploying undercover cops at the upcoming convention could prove worthwhile again.

“It proved effective with the NATO summit and other big scale events we've had,” said the former Marine. “That’s always been a good way to find out information in real time and help police solve any issue that arises from that. So, putting someone inside a protest or organization, it might be something smart to employ even in this situation.”