A few weeks from now, the Democratic National Convention will take place. While pro-Israel groups are still unsure if they can organize a demonstration, pro-Palestinian organizations have been given permission.

Early in July, the Israeli American Council (a nonprofit group that represents the interests of Israeli-Americans) filed two permits with the Chicago Department of Transportation for protests near the convention. Jewish Insider reports that despite contacting the department by phone and email, the group is still waiting for a response to the permit request.

The IAC submitted a request in mid-June to hold a rally within “sight” and “sound” of the convention. However, this request was denied. In the rejection letter, it stated that the rally would “be a direct interference with an earlier planned permitted activity or public gathering and create public safety concerns.”

The city offered the IAC the opportunity to hold a demo in a park on the 22nd of August, the last day for the convention. However, the group declined the offer as it was too far away from the United Center, where the convention is taking place.

Pro-Palestinian organizations have also been granted permission to hold a “March on the DNC” near the convention. The march is expected to attract more than 25,000 people. The approval of the planned protest march is meant to settle a suit against Chicago, after officials were accused by plaintiffs of violating First Amendment Rights. There are still disputes between the organizers of the protest march and city officials about the route. A judge is expected to settle the dispute in the next few days.

Aya Shechter, Chief Programming Officer at the IAC said that her organization was not treated fairly in comparison to the pro Palestinian protesters.

In an interview, she told the outlet that “it seems as though we don’t get equal access to what the other group has been approved for.” “We did not get an offer to march anywhere else, or even at a different location.”

The IAC is urging the Biden-Harris Administration to show support for Israel as tensions escalate in the Middle East, with fears of proxy wars between Israel and Iran.

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Schechter said that they wanted to raise awareness about the U.S. citizens, who were either murdered on Oct. 7, or kidnapped in Gaza and are still held there. We think it’s important to bring this up during the DNC.

Chicago’s mayor Brandon Johnson is under fire for his tie-breaking vote to approve a City Council Resolution calling for a Gaza ceasefire.