Israel’s assault on Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis is not getting much airtime on the main stage of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Inside the convention hall, Democratic leaders act as if the death toll of 40,000 Palestinians is an uncomfortable fact to avoid during a celebration of party unity.

But outside the convention, where protesters gather alongside the long columns of police guarding a massive security perimeter, Palestinian liberation is center stage — at least until riot cops intervene.

With only a few fleeting references to Gaza in speeches at the convention, some Democratic leaders have attempted to placate the thousands of protesters outside by declaring support for a ceasefire deal that remains elusive after months of negotiation. Protesters say calling for a ceasefire is meaningless while the Biden administration continues to arm Israel with bombs used to wipe out entire families, mosques, schools, universities and neighborhoods. Two-thirds of buildings in Gaza are now damaged or destroyed.

Activists demand Democrats support an embargo on U.S. weapons transfers to Israel and acknowledge the depth of Palestinian suffering instead of sweeping U.S. complicity with alleged Israeli war crimes under the rug. Democrats and the powers-that-be in Chicago have responded by refusing to allow Palestinian speakers on the convention’s main stage and smothering the Palestine solidarity marches with huge numbers of police. Police have made roughly 90 arrests during minor clashes with protesters so far, according to reports and legal observers.

Everywhere there are protesters in Chicago, there are also massive caravans of cops watching their every move. The police presence is overwhelming, with officers often outnumbering protesters in the streets after months of handwringing over security in the corporate media. Anyone who steps out of line by leaving a designated march route or disobeying police orders is quickly detained.

Marches large and small have been largely peaceful besides isolated confrontations with police, which became heated outside the Israeli consulate about two miles away from the DNC on Tuesday night. At least 72 protesters and journalists were corralled........

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