War in Gaza casts shadow over DNC opening

Flush with excitement at the nomination of Kamala Harris to the top of its presidential ticket, the Democratic National Convention opened at Chicago’s United Center on Monday, projecting energy and emphasizing unity.

But for many faith-based activists, the convention will be a culmination of months of activism and protest against the war in Gaza, and in the days before the highly anticipated convention, they have done their best to cast a shadow on this week’s proceedings.

While many mainstream Jewish groups are looking for reassurance that a President Harris will continue President Joe Biden’s unflagging support for Israel in its war against Hamas, an array of Muslim groups spent the past weekend planning a series of protests urging Harris and the Democratic ticket to end military aid to Israel. Many of these protests will be supported, and attended, by liberal Jews and Christians.