DNC Day 3 features Tim Walz keynote, more protests near United Center

The group protesting in Union Park continued to grow by the hour Wednesday afternoon. The Coalition for Justice in Palestine identifies as the largest Palestinian activist group in the country.

Cook County is also home to the largest Palestinian American community in the country, with more than 18,000 people.

The same group has been behind dozens of protests in Chicago since October of last year.

"The real human race is here. It's not just Palestinian. You look at this—Palestinians, other Arab countries, non-Arabs, Americans, all different races—white, Asian, African American, everybody's here," said protester Mustafa Zayed. "You look around, we say Chicago is a melting pot—this is Chicago. That's a melting pot. We're all here."

The group was expected to begin marching within the hour, in the direction of the United Center.

People on the stage made comments ahead of the march asking protesters not to engage with agitators who may be out to cause trouble.

Insects were placed in the breakfast buffet of the Indiana Democratic delegation Wednesday morning.

A person who attended the breakfast said bugs were found in the buffet, and they appeared to be crickets—contrary to earlier reports that they were maggots.

The incident happened at the Fairmont Chicago Hotel, at 200 N. Columbus Dr., police said.

Police said multiple girls or women entered the hotel and began placing "unknown objects" onto tables with food.

"The safety and well-being of our delegation is our top priority. All Americans have the right to peaceful protest, but ugly attacks like this have no place in our democracy," Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Barloga said in a statement. "We thank the security team for responding swiftly."

Chicago Police and the FBI are investigating.

Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), who represents the area around the United Center, says the neighborhood has adapted well to the Democratic National Convention coming to their community. 

Burnett and former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a CBS News Chicago political analyst, also weighed in on what they've seen at the DNC halfway through.

Dozens of social media influencers are in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention as the party hopes they will get young voters excited for the election and the Harris-Walz ticket.

From surprise celebrity appearances to one-line zingers, the DNC has been creating a decent amount of online chatter. Delegates told CBS News Chicago they hope the people being entertained at home not only laugh but vote.

Nostalgia hit hard on the second night of the DNC from Michael Jackson for Hoosiers to the Chicago Bulls' walk-on song for the Illinois delegates. Lots of folks were talking about the music that accompanied each state's roll calls.

Most agreed that Georgia stole the show with a live performance by Lil Jon. The moment flooded social media feeds and was trending on Google.

"Everybody was just like on their feet," said Gion Thomas, a delegate from Texas. "Just screaming."

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At the protest Thursday, a banner was unfurled on the ground calling on President Biden to "free Leonard Peltier."

Peltier is an Indigenous activist who has been in prison since 1977, after being convicted in the killings two years earlier of two FBI agents in during a standoff on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

Peltier has said the FBI framed him, and has appealed his conviction numerous times. His case has long been a cause for social justice activists, who view him as a political prisoner.

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance slammed Chicago and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz in one fell swoop on Tuesday, saying it was "almost a joke" that the Democratic National Convention is being held in Chicago.

"My little theory about why they decided to have the convention in Chicago is Tim Walz has been going around saying he served in war and maybe they did it in Chicago so they can accurately say that he visited a combat zone," Vance said.

CBS News Chicago asked political analysts Lori Lightfoot, the city's former mayor, and Pat Brady, the former Illinois Republican Party chair to weigh in on the political value of such attacks, and asked for their thoughts on Walz's upcoming keynote speech at the DNC on Wednesday night.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrats' vice presidential nominee, and former President Bill Clinton were among those slated to speak on the third night of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday.

Walz was spotted testing out the sound system on the stage just several hours ahead of his highly-anticipated speech.

As of 4 p.m., the pro-Palestinian protest crowd was rallying on a stage at Union Park. The crowd was expected to march toward the United Center later Wednesday afternoon.

The group is calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel for the war in Gaza. The group was passionate, but peaceful.

But referencing the clashes in a protest outside the Israeli Consulate Tuesday night, which resulted in 55 to 60 arrests, police Supt. Larry Snelling emphasized Wednesday that police must monitor all protests to ensure they remain peaceful.

As of 3:30 p.m., a few hundred people were assembled in Union Park for a pro-Palestinian protest. The Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine, which organized the protest, said its mission is to "seek justice in protest of Israel's violence against an innocent civilian population."

Two protesters explained why they believed it was important to turn out for the protest.

"It's critical that they change their mind on policy," said Yasar Samarah. "It's just this continued support of Israel no matter what—whether they're right or they're wrong."

"I think it's just standing up for humanity," said Alicia Campos. "Everybody knows what's going on over there. It's a genocide."

Tourists downtown stopped to capture video on Wednesday afternoon as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's motorcade—led by dozens of state police troopers on motorcycles—sped past Millennium Park on his way to the Democratic National Convention on the West Side of Chicago. 

Many of the gawkers weren't sure what they were witnessing. 

"Must be somebody important," said one of the dozens of people with cell phones out to capture the moment. 

Walz was on his way to the United Center for a walkthrough in preparation for his speech to the DNC tonight as the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee. 

Walz spent about 15 minutes checking out the venue, chatting with the DNC workers and aides. 

Chicago police said dozens of people were arrested Tuesday night, when members of an unsanctioned protest rally outside the Israeli Consulate in downtown Chicago clashed with police on the second night of the Democratic National Convention.

Police Supt. Larry Snelling said between 55 and 60 people were arrested during the protest, including three journalists who police said did not comply with officers' orders when police moved in to contain the protest and arrest demonstrators who had attacked officers.  

"We had a group that showed up, and they showed up with the intent on committing acts of violence and vandalism. That was their intent," Snelling said Wednesday morning. "We attempted to avoid the clash to no avail, but CPD is not going to run away. We will not stand by and let our officers be attacked, because an officer who cannot protect himself, herself, themselves cannot protect this city. Enough is enough."

The group Behind Enemy Lines began a protest Tuesday evening outside the Israeli Consulate, located in the Accenture Tower at 500 W. Madison St. in the West Loop—1.75 miles due east of the United Center where the convention is under way. Protesters also set American flags on fire during the rally.

"We did everything we could to de-escalate that situation, but there's only so much de-escalation that you can attempt before it becomes excessive repetition," Snelling said. "Last night was a danger to our city, and a danger to our citizens in this city, our residents, property – and CPD had to protect that."

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One of the highlights of Tuesday night's DNC program, to judge from the reaction on social media, came from a procedural requirement that more often comes off as a low-energy slog.

But instead, the state-by-state roll call of delegates committing their support behind Democratic nominee Kamala Harris was given a jolt of energy courtesy DJ Cassidy, who provided customized song accompaniment for each state's moment in the spotlight.

But when it came for Wisconsin, nearly last in the alphabet, to take its turn, the energy appeared to overwhelm Gov. Tony Evers.

Surrounded by a group of cheesehead-wearing supporters, Evers notably fumbled through his script. He started off by listing the major Wisconsin sports teams, but when he got to the Green Bay Packers, he was met by boos from the Illinois crowd. 

"I'm here because I'm jazzed as hell," Evers continued, "to announce that Wisconsin casts one vote present and 94 votes for ... for ... for ... whoa, where are we at? Got me going here. Former Wisconsinite, former state ... oh my god ..."

Evers ultimately got through his presentation, but not without seeming to nearly forget Harris' name.

On Wednesday morning, Evers posted a response on X.

"Holy mackerel — sometimes the jazz gets the best of ya, folks," he wrote. 

Young people, some first-time voters, have taken to social media to express support for Vice President Kamla Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.

The support behind Harris has since translated into viral memes and references, and even Charli XCX's Lime Green Brat album became the unofficial theme of the Harris campaign.

If you haven't grasped the context of the coconut tree, just a few hours of exploring the DNC will introduce you to how Gen Zers have gravitated to Harris' campaign.

Memes come to life, lime green is everywhere, and so are the people who made it go viral - young Democrats from recent high school graduates to voters in their mid-20s - energetic, hopeful, and galvanized by Harris' eleventh-hour nomination.

"I feel like the excitement really happened when Biden jumped out, as much as I hate to say it," Callie said.

Read more here. 

There have been a number of protests and demonstrations in and around downtown Chicago this week. Here are images showing some of the statements being made and the clashes caught on camera.

CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz shares photos from Night 2 of the DNC, including former President Barack Obama as he watches his wife, Michelle, speak at the convention. 

Some of the people who were arrested at Tuesday night's protest outside the Israeli Consulate – following multiple clashes with police – were released from custody Wednesday morning at the temporary DNC courthouse set up at the Area 3 police station at Belmont and Western. Approximately 10 people had been released by 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Protesters outside the courthouse said they were there to offer people being released support ranging from coffee to attorney information. Protest organizers said between 60 to 70 people were arrested during the demonstration, and members of Behind Enemy Lines said they will stay at the courthouse until everyone who was arrested is released.

Former Chicago Police First Deputy Supt. Anthony Riccio discussed CPD's response and preparations during the protest.

Mayor Brandon Johnson helped Illinois delegates kick off Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, welcoming delegates from across the state to Chicago.

It was the first DNC breakfast Johnson attended alongside the Illinois delegation. For the first two days of the DNC, he chose to attend other state's breakfasts.

Each morning serves as a rallying moment for delegates ahead of the evening's main festivities.

"This is a room full of powerful leaders, elected leaders, labor leaders, civic leaders, clergy," Johnson said. "I can tell you when I look in this room today, the complexion and the direction of this room is a lot different than in 2016, and that's a good thing."

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Stephen Maynard Caliendo of North Central College discusses some of the highlights from Night 2 of the Democratic National Convention.

Former U.S. Rep. and political consultant Cheri Bustos joined Dana Kozlov to discuss Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention, saying the vibe was "off the charts."

Bustos said she thinks the best speech was from former First Lady Michelle Obama. 

"I think she even outid her husband, which is nearly impossible to do," she said.