CHICAGO − On Wednesday evening, around 1,000 individuals gathered and marched peacefully to protest the ongoing war in Gaza, as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was set to speak on the third day of the Democratic National Convention, just nearby.

The demonstration began at Chicago’s Union Park and moved, accompanied by police, to a location visible from the convention center.

Unlike the prior two days, when police made numerous arrests amid confrontations, Wednesday’s event was family-friendly, with many children joining their parents. No arrests were reported by early Wednesday night.

Chicago boasts the largest Palestinian-American population in the U.S., and the toll of the 10-month conflict has galvanized residents, sparking weekly protests against the violence in Gaza since October 7.

Attendees included individuals with their elderly parents and children, such as Haneen Ballouta, a dental hygienist from Cook County’s Little Palestine.

Ballouta, attending the protest with nine family members, expressed hope that Democratic leaders would notice the gathering and take action to halt the violence against innocent people.

However, Ballouta mentioned that the turnout at Union Park felt smaller compared to other protests earlier in the year.

Majed Shaq, a 72-year-old originally from Ramallah, shared his disappointment, saying, “I expected a larger crowd. They’ve been under attack in Gaza for nearly a year now; it’s time for it to end.”

Some protesters expressed passionate sentiments, chanting slogans such as “over 40,000 dead, DNC your hands are red” and directing harsh words at Democratic leaders.

Earlier that day, police and legal aides exchanged accusations regarding the arrests of numerous protesters on Tuesday night outside the Israeli consulate.

Police apprehended over 70 individuals that night, including three journalists, during a relatively small demonstration that turned chaotic, featuring encounters between officers and protesters and the burning of an American flag.

Most arrests were for petty offenses like disorderly conduct, according to Benjamin Meyer, an attorney with the National Lawyers Guild.

Meyer noted that police tactics from the previous night raised concerns, claiming two protesters had been hospitalized due to police mistreatment, although he did not disclose their injuries.

Among those arrested on Tuesday night, at least 22 were visitors from outside Chicago, primarily from the West Coast, according to the city’s emergency management office. The identities of 14 individuals were unclear as they declined to provide personal information to authorities.

Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, the national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, criticized the arrest of journalists, stating, “Journalism is not a crime and the media should not be targeted by law enforcement simply for fulfilling their responsibilities.”

Contributions from: Trevor Hughes and Medora Lee, YSL News; Sophie Carson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel