PROTESTERS marched through Chicago again today, demanding an end to US arms sales to Israel as the Democrat National Convention (DNC) met in the city.

Feminist peace campaign Code Pink rallied in the central Union Park before marching on the convention centre, having already disrupted the conference’s opening session on Sunday night. Organisers estimated 20,000 marched.

“We have to play our part in the belly of the beast to stop the genocide, to end US aid to Israel and stand with Palestine,” Coalition to March on the DNC Hatem Abudayyeh said.

On Sunday, as delegates arrived in the city, Code Pink activists skippered a boat down the Chicago river flying the Palestinian flag and carrying signs reading “The Women of Gaza are our Sisters” and “Feminists Say No to War.”

And they confronted them again as they poured into a welcome dinner organised by the Democratic Party, shouting “Tell [presidential nominee and Vice-President] Kamala Harris: Stop supporting genocide! Stop starving children! No weapons for Israel!”

Code Pink’s co-founders Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans sneaked into the centre and were able to unfurl a banner reading Kamala: No Weapons to Israel during welcome speeches. 

Ms Benjamin said the organisation plans to send that message to Democrats “every day this week” with different protest actions.

Many other organisations will stage protests over the week, including over economic justice and abortion rights.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat and former organiser with the Chicago Teachers Union, said he would “do everything in [his] power to protect the right to assemble in protest,” which was guaranteed by the first amendment to the US constitution.