Secret Service and Chicago police ramp up preparations for Democratic convention as protests loom

Secret Service and Chicago police officials are ramping up preparations for the Democratic National Convention in August, with officers receiving training ranging from First Amendment rights to handling violent protests and mass arrests.

Secret Service and Chicago police officials are ramping up preparations for the Democratic National Convention in August, with officers receiving training ranging from First Amendment rights to handling violent protests and mass arrests. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle visited Chicago this week to tour the United Center, where the televised prime-time convention speeches will take place, and McCormick Place, the convention center where the party will conduct business during the daytime. The convention, which takes place from August 19 to 22, is expected to draw a crowd of 50,000 visitors – including delegates, media, vendors and more – and is also sure to be met with huge protests. Democrats are poised to nominate President Joe Biden for reelection at their Chicago convention. But recent demonstrations across the country against Biden’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza have raised the specter of a replay of the 1968 Democratic convention, which saw violent clashes between Chicago police and anti-Vietnam War protesters. On Monday, Cheatle addressed the almost 100 agents of the Secret Service’s Chicago field office in a closed-door meeting. The Chicago field office also covers Milwaukee, where Republicans are holding their convention in July, so the team has been planning for both gatherings. Cheatle said in an interview that law enforcement officials are preparing for a wide range of scenarios.