Boston 2004 Democrat Presidential Convention Was Rocked By Protests

As the two major political parties prepare for their presidential nominating conventions this summer, there is concern that the anti-war protests that have erupted on college campuses nationwide could disrupt the proceedings.

Some Democrats are concerned since incumbent Democrat President Joe Biden appears to be drawing the wrath of many of the protesters who seem to disagree with his handling of Israel's war with Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

The 2024 Republican National Convention will be held July 15-18 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Former Republican President Donald Trump is the party's likely nominee.

Many Democrats recall how anti-Vietnam War protesters disrupted their presidential nominating convention in Chicago in 1968. Republican Richard Nixon was elected president that year.

The Democrats return to Chicago August 19-22 for the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. Conventioneers are likely to face anti-war demonstrators again in the Windy City.

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The 2004 Democratic National Convention was held in Boston 20 years ago, again attracting anti-war demonstrators.

Some 2,000 anti-Iraq War protestors marched on the opening night of the convention, crossing paths with some 1,000 anti-abortion activists on their way to the convention at the FleetCenter (now TD Garden).

Former U.S. Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina became the Democrat party's presidential and vice presidential nominees. They lost in November 2004 to incumbent Republicans George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.

Some 400 members of the anti-Iraq War Bl(A)ck Tea Society set fire to an effigy that was half-Kerry, half-Bush during the convention while other more peaceful anti-war protesters demonstrated nearby.

Senator Barack Obama of Illinois delivered the keynote address at the 2004 nominating convention. He was elected president four years later. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter addressed the convention, as did Rev. Al Sharpton, Hillary Clinton, Sen. Edward Kennedy and former Vice President Al Gore.