An Israeli American pro-Israel group has expressed outrage after being denied a permit to march near the Democratic National Convention (DNC) while anti-Israel groups have allegedly been approved for their own demonstrations.
Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli American Council (IAC), has voiced frustration over his group's denial of a permit to march near the DNC, which is set to begin next week in Chicago. IAC had applied for two permits with the city's Department of Transportation last month.
Pro-Israel Group Denied Permit for DNC March, Anti-Israel Groups Approved
"It's an outrage," Carr said. "We put in a permit to march, to exercise our First Amendment rights. Not only to stand up for Israel, but to stand up for America, because the people who love Israel are the people who stand with America, wave American flags, not burn them."
Carr further alleges that while IAC's permit request was denied, permits have been granted to anti-Israel groups, who he claims burn the American flag during protests.
Pro-Israel Group Denied Permit for DNC March, Anti-Israel Groups Approved
Carr has labeled the alleged differential treatment "inequitable" and claimed that his group's effort to display photos of American hostages in Gaza at Midway and O'Hare airports was also denied.
"They wouldn't even put it [the rejection] in writing. It was a phone call," he said. "We said, ‘Can you give us an actual denial in writing?’ They said, 'No, we're not going to put it in writing. It's going to be a phone call only.' I'll tell you, this is bad stuff and this should be looked into."
Pro-Israel Group Denied Permit for DNC March, Anti-Israel Groups Approved
The alleged denial has prompted Carr to deliver a message to Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris.
"We are here. Proud Americans who stand proudly patriotic for our country, for the United States, and stand with Israel, and we have expectations of our government," he said. "We expect the United States of America to stand strongly with the State of Israel, as it really fights for its life against these forces of darkness in the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies, like Hezbollah, like Hamas."
Pro-Israel Group Denied Permit for DNC March, Anti-Israel Groups Approved
Earlier this year, Chicago denied IAC's permit request for a stationary protest within "sight and sound" of the convention, citing potential "public safety issues" due to insufficient resources. The city offered an alternative location two to three blocks away, which IAC rejected.
Meanwhile, anti-Israel protesters are engaged in legal battles with the city, claiming that their First Amendment rights have been violated after some officials allegedly blocked their permit requests to march within "sight and sound" of the DNC. The Chicago Tribune reported that Mayor Brandon Johnson's office offered these protesters a route "adjacent" to the United Center.
In a statement to Fox News, the city of Chicago said: "The City of Chicago fully supports the rights of individuals and groups to safely exercise their First Amendment right to protest. While ongoing litigation prevents us from commenting on specific details about the route or assembly area, we can confirm that demonstrators will be able to protest within sight and sound of the United Center. No Assembly or Parade permits near the United Center or McCormick place have been issued at this time."
