For decades, every Democrat and Republican political convention has been declared a “national special security event” by the Department of Homeland Security. That designation puts the Secret Service in charge of coordinating safety planning with the FBI, FEMA, police in Chicago and other federal and state and local agencies.
Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said in March that Chicago police “will protect all those exercising their first amendment rights” in and around the convention. “What we will not tolerate is criminal activity,” he added. “Violence, vandalism will not be tolerated.”
Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said in March that Chicago police “will protect all those exercising their first amendment rights” in and around the convention. “What we will not tolerate is criminal activity,” he added. “Violence, vandalism will not be tolerated.”
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NewsTranscript
00:00We want to make sure that we have a safe and successful Democratic National Convention.
00:06Oftentimes, it is forgotten that there was a Democratic Convention between 1968 and now.
00:15It was a success.
00:17We will have resources in every single neighborhood.
00:21So it's not forgotten that we have a city to protect.
00:26It's not just around the venues covering the Democratic National Convention.
00:31The Chicago Police Department will be in every single neighborhood protecting the neighborhoods.
00:37So we will not deplete resources from our neighborhoods to simply put in the area where the Democratic National Convention is being held.
00:46Our officers have been training for over a year.
00:51And Chicago Police Department, along with everyone who is going to be working with us,
00:56our federal, state, local partners, county,
01:00we're all working in collaboration to make sure that the city is safe and secure.
01:05The convention has been designated a National Special Security Event.
01:09That delegation allows for a whole-of-government approach.
01:14It means that the federal government has its full complement of resources
01:19and works with its state and local partners to ensure a safe and secure environment
01:24for residents, delegates, and the entire city of Chicago as the DNC opens on Monday.
01:30I'm confident that our plan will provide a safe and secure environment during the DNC.
01:35I reiterate, nothing gives me a pause on this convention that's going to take place next week.