The police described the pro-Palestinian protest as violent, asserting they attempted to de-escalate before making arrests, claiming they will not tolerate disrespect.
Larry Snelling, Chicago police superintendent, stated: "We were not the initiators of violence, but we responded to it," affirming the police actions were defensive.
Michael Boyte, co-founder of Behind Enemy Lines, criticized police for not allowing demonstrators to march to the convention, arguing it escalated tensions unnecessarily.
Despite scuffles, the protests aimed to voice opposition to the war in Gaza; demonstrators felt their right to peaceful assembly had been thwarted by police.
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