J.B. Pritzker: We Will Arrest ‘Troublemaker’ Protesters at DNC If They Become Violent

Peter Wade
·2-min read

Protesters at the Democratic National Convention should consider themselves forewarned: Gov. J.B. Pritzker says that if protests become violent, police will make arrests.

“If there are troublemakers, they’re going to get arrested and they’re going to get convicted,” Pritzker told CNN State of the Union host Jake Tapper on Sunday.

Tapper asked Pritzker about whether this year’s convention will resemble the 1968 convention in Chicago that was “overshadowed by violent clashes between police and protesters then protesting the Vietnam War.” Now, the protesters will be opposing the Biden-Harris administration’s support of Israel’s nearly year-long attack on Gaza and escalating conflict in the broader region. Protesters have also shown up at Vice President Kamala Harris’ speeches, and there is an organized movement calling for Harris to endorse an arms embargo on Israel.

“How worried are you about [protesters] disrupting the actual convention, including the uncommitted delegates inside the convention hall?” Tapper asked.

“I know reporters like to hearken back to ’68 because there’s a lot of good footage you get to point to… But the fact is that the vast majority of people who are protesting — and we have seen this before — are peaceful protesters,” the Illinois governor responded. “They want to have their voices heard. They’re going to be heard, no doubt about it. And we’re going to protect that.”

Pritzker noted another difference between ’68 and ’24: The party has “coalesced” around Harris. That was not the case with then-vice president Hubert Humphrey. Additionally, he said, policing has changed.

“Policing is all different now, and we have got technology at work,” Pritzker added. “Really, the protesters are protesting something that is very far away from here. Very important, but it’s not about people getting drafted from here going abroad. So it’s a whole different situation. And honestly, I expect that we’re going to have peaceful protests.”

But, Pritzker warned, if protests do become violent, police will not hesitate to make arrests. “If there are troublemakers, they’re going to get arrested and they’re going to get convicted. But the fact is that the vast majority of people who are protesting — and we have seen this before — are peaceful protesters. They want to have their voices heard. They’re going to be heard, no doubt about it. And we’re going to protect that.”

Protests are not uncommon at conventions. In 2016, supporters of Bernie Sanders staged both a sit-in and a walk-out to show opposition to then-nominee Hillary Clinton. But protests stayed largely peaceful.

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