Gaza protesters briefly breach fence at Democratic National Convention

Protesters against Israel's war in Gaza briefly breached the security fence at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, hours before US President Joe Biden gave a tearful farewell speech including praise for Vice President Kamala Harris, the party's nominee. Biden addressed protesters’ concerns in his speech, highlighting the tensions within the party over the conflict.

Protesters against Israel's war in Gaza briefly breached the outer security fence of the Democratic convention in Chicago Monday, hours before US President Joe Biden passed the torch to new nominee Kamala Harris.

Biden did not directly address the security lapse in his hour-long speech, but he said "those protesters out in the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides" of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A small group of around 100 demonstrators broke off from a larger march involving thousands of people and targeted the metal barriers surrounding the United Center on the first day of the Democratic Party's gathering.

Police in blue helmets with shields and carrying black batons prevented them from getting to the inner cordon. One demonstrator clad in black was carried out by their arms and legs by several officers, an AFP correspondent saw.

Police later advanced on a park near the convention center to clear it of demonstrators.

(AFP)

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