As Chicago gears up for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) taking place from August 19 to August 22, residents and visitors are bracing for a wave of street closures and security measures spreading across the city. In anticipation of the significant political event at the United Center and McCormick Place, which is expected to draw a host of Democratic dignitaries, celebrities, and thousands of delegates, thoroughfare shutdowns began taking effect Saturday evening, as reported by NBC Chicago.
Among the closures implemented Saturday is the Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. exit from Interstate 55 northbound, designed to tighten security and accommodate only those vehicles authorized by the U.S. Secret Service, the Near West Side neighborhood, where the United Center is located, will see streets like Madison Street and Damen Avenue closed to traffic, leading local Robert Lockhart to lament the detours awaiting those navigating the area, in a statement obtained by NBC Chicago, "Detour, detour all day long," said Robert Lockhart while waiting for a ride on the Near West Side, "If you got to come over here in this area, be prepared to be like, 'Oh man, traffic is going to start, so let me plan around that.'"
Additional closures near McCormick Place were actioned on Friday, including the establishment of vehicle security screening checkpoints at South Indiana Avenue and 18th Street, and near Wabash Avenue and Cermak Road, these measures coincide with several anticipated protests planned to commence Sunday, signaling a bustling start to the convention week, as outlined by NBC Chicago.
The security protocol extends beyond roadway alterations, with a 15-foot buffer zone set around the United Center and McCormick Place. The zone has banned a wide array of items including laptops, large bags, drones, and even umbrellas. Summoning the spirit of a city no stranger to summits and their often intricate dance of security and protest, the buffer zone – according to ABC7 Chicago – will remain in force, enveloping the venues in a cloak of restriction until 12:01 a.m. Monday, August 26.
