Protesters are expected to wreak such havoc at next week’s Democratic National Convention, some members of Congress have been told not to book hotels in their own names, according to a new report from Axios.
They’ve also been warned to avoid staying in certain area’s of the host city, Chicago, and one Democratic lawmaker told the website they were “very concerned” about personal security.
At least some area hotels have been getting calls from people with random requests for names.
“The protesters aren’t staying in a designated protest site … and there are people who are going to go and really try to cause trouble,” the lawmaker added.
In guidance sent to House members, the Congressional sergeant-at-arms’ office wrote, “If you are confronted by protesters, try not to engage and report to [Capitol Police].”
“There are security concerns, but based on what I’ve heard, I would classify them as standard, given the current climate and the issue of Israel and Palestine with the vocal minority,” said one Dem insider familiar with the situation.
Roughly 100,000 pro-Hamas demonstrators are expected to descend on the Windy City this week to protest the convention and President Biden’s support for Israel. Chicago merchants are taking no chances with stores boarded up across the city’s downtown in expectation of violence.
