Democrats in Chicago book hotels under fake names to hide from protesters: report

As the Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago, House Democrats are reportedly being told to check into hotels under assumed names to avoid being detected by up to 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters in the city.

Axios reported that Democratic Party security officials are worried that demonstrators might turn on members of Congress.

The protests were planned before Vice President Kamala Harris was appointed as the Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden was pressured to drop out of the race. But the change at the top hasn’t made any difference to those leading the demonstrations.

According to Axios, “House Democrats attending the Democratic National Convention next week are being advised by congressional security officials not to book hotel rooms under their own names or engage with protesters if confronted, Axios has learned. The guidance comes as some Democratic lawmakers are fearful about their safety after being rattled by a series of disruptive pro-Palestinian protests since the Israel-Hamas war started last year.”

Some hotels “have been getting random calls asking for people” an anonymous lawmaker told Axios. The official guidance from the House sergeant-at-arms to Democratic representatives at the convention is to duck and cover: “If you are confronted by protesters, try not to engage and report to [Capitol Police].”

Other anonymous lawmakers expressed safety concerns and that they have been told to avoid some areas of the city because violence – already chronically on display in Chicago – is expected. “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 unnamed source told Axios.

A welcome package received by House Dems emphasizes how the Secret Service is in charge of convention security and “has been coordinating with all levels of law enforcement agencies” including the Capitol Police and the Chicago Police Department, providing “over 400 hours of training to officers specifically for this event.”

This revelation might not satisfy the security concerns of convention goers who recall that the Secret Service was in charge of the Butler, Pennsylvania site of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, where they also liaised with local police.