fresh barriers instituted near DNC following yesterday's infiltration by supporters of Palestine beyond the initial perimeter fence.
Approximately twelve personnel put up an extra row of barriers along Washington Boulevard, shifting eastward from where the previous barrier was broken. This additional barrier stands positioned between the two existing ones.
The event followed yesterday's incident, in which a populace advocating for Palestinian rights, campaigning against the United States' backing of Israel in its conflict against Hamas, separated from a larger protest procession and managed to penetrate a security wall nearby the United Center.
More demonstrations are anticipated during the four-day event.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling shared with reporters on Monday that, "They succeeded in breaching the fence. They entered the outer circle. They attempted to get to the inner circle, they were shaking the fence on the opposing side." He further mentioned that officers swiftly intervened to prevent any further intrusion.
Snelling emphasized, "Our objective here is to ensure the DNC's safety, the city's safety, and the city's safety in its entirety. We're unsure of what would have transpired if they had gained access to the opposite side. However, as I've mentioned before, we won't condone any acts of damage to our city or any instances of violence."
Snelling clarified that he did not tie the security violation to the overall march. "There were individuals who merely wanted to voice their opinions. They did so. However, a segment of that group chose to stand behind and attempt to force their way through the barrier, and we can't allow that."
The DNC Public Safety Joint Information Center issued a statement, asserting, "The inner perimeter was never breached, and there was no imminent danger to any protective individuals."
They continued, "Each National Special Security Event plan necessitates a multi-layered approach. Each NSSE plan is tailored and incorporates various layers. One of these additional safeguards involves the outer perimeter fence, which was built to impede access to the inner perimeter."
Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, speaking from the convention floor on CNN, affirmed that authorities have "a sound strategy in place" and deemed the fence penetration to be temporary.
Pritzker maintained, "We uphold the right to protest, but we will not tolerate any chaos."
CNN's Michael Williams, Jamiel Lynch, and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.
The escalating tensions in politics, fueled by the controversial stance on Palestinian rights, have been a primary catalyst for these demonstrations. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure politics does not escalate into violence during the event.
