Chicago police arrest dozens in Democratic convention protest; oil tanker adrift in Red Sea after attacks

A Greek-operated oil tanker was adrift in the Red Sea after facing a salvo of attacks.

Northwestern University in Illinois, US, will require all students to undergo training on preventing anti-Semitism and Islamophobia as the school seeks to avert the kind of divisive protests over the Israel-Hamas war that shook college campuses earlier this year.

Chicago police arrest more than 50 after clash at protest

Chicago police made their first large arrest during this week’s gathering of Democratic leaders after Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police at a march that started just outside the Israeli Consulate.

At least 55 people were taken into custody on Tuesday night after demonstrators marched into a line of police. The protesters had promised to “Shut Down the DNC for Gaza!” and “Make it Great, like ‘68,” when Vietnam War protests erupted into police brutality when Chicago hosted the convention.

“We will not allow people to come to this city, disrespect it and destroy it,” said Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling. “We expect the rest of the week to be better.”

Chicago had been preparing for a wave of protests since the city was awarded the convention about a year ago and some activist groups had promised that thousands of people would show up to protest the war in Gaza. Disruptions have threatened to upset the mood after the nomination of Vice-President Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket re-energised the Democratic Party, but so far it has been largely muted.

On Tuesday night, police trailed demonstrators around Chicago’s West Loop neighbourhood before making the arrests.

Protesters marched directly at a line of police officers about 30 minutes after the march began. Officers using bicycles as a makeshift barricade were soon replaced by riot police with batons.

Unidentified ship adrift in Red Sea after attack 

A Greek-operated oil tanker was adrift in the Red Sea after facing a salvo of attacks.

The Sounion was attacked while sailing through the waterway and suffered minor damage, its owner and operator Delta Tankers said on Wednesday. It didn’t specify whether the ship was drifting as a result of damage from the attack, or how long it might do so.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in a notice that a tanker — which it didn’t identify by name — was hit by a series of projectiles early Wednesday after being approached by two small vessels. No casualties were reported.

There was also a fire on board and the ship lost engine power, according to an update from UKMTO, which is part of the UK navy.

The Sounion, which can haul about a million barrels of crude oil, was adrift while the crew assessed the impact, according to Delta. It would continue its onward journey in due course, the company said.

Vessels have been regularly attacked in the Red Sea since Yemen’s Houthi militants began targeting merchant ships late last year in protest at Israel’s activities in Gaza. In June, they sank a ship with a sea drone for the first time.

US university mandates anti-hate training after Gaza protests

Northwestern University will require all students to undergo training on preventing anti-Semitism and Islamophobia as the school seeks to avert the kind of divisive protests over the Israel-Hamas war that shook college campuses earlier this year.

The training will also be provided to faculty and staff, said Northwestern. In addition, the university will host a series of lectures about hate, racism, and the history of the conflict in the Middle East. The school also plans to release updates to its student code of conduct and demonstration policy in September.

“We need to ensure every member of our community feels safe and supported,” said Northwestern President Michael Schill. “Activities that lead to intimidation and impede an environment where dialogue and education can flourish cannot occur again.”

Student protests sparked by the war in Gaza roiled universities across the US, and Northwestern was among the universities that took criticism from both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators for its handling of the tumult on campus. Many US colleges are trying to prevent a repeat of the confrontations as students return after summer break. DM

Read more: Middle East crisis news hub