Officials, protestors, and residents preparing ahead of Democratic National Convention in Chicago

CHICAGO (WBAY) - It’s just days before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Approximately 50,000 people are expected at the DNC, which starts Monday at the United Center in Chicago.

The city’s Police Superintendent Larry Snelling says police officers have been through extensive training ahead of the four-day event.

Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept the party’s nomination on Thursday.

Snelling says the local police are working closely alongside federal law enforcement agencies - to deal with the large crowds including anti-war activists expected to demonstrate near the venue.

“We do expect a large group of people to converge upon the city just a visit, to participate in the democratic national convention or to come here and exercise their first amendment rights. So we’ve been preparing for over a year for this and we’re prepared for whatever number of people decided to show up here in the city of Chicago,” Chicago Police Department Supt. Larry Snelling

Among the attendees will be thousands of anti-war activists who plan to demonstrate near the venue where Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept the party’s nomination

Those activists are furious over the city’s decision to grant them the ability to rally in two city parks but forbid them from setting up stages, a speaker system, portable toilets, or other amenities. This comes after months of legal wrangling over where the designated protest area would be.

Chicago originally sought to have them march miles away from the United Center, but a federal judge recently ratified an alternative parade route that is within sight of the venue.

Protest groups are still fighting the decision to prohibit certain items, saying they are in effect being censured.

“This is not an issue of safety or security. it’s a content-based decision and a content-based decision is illegal to say we don’t want you to speak because of what you are saying,” said Hatem Abudayyeh, a member of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network.

Police say they’ve been preparing for more than a year and are working closely with federal law enforcement agencies to ensure a smooth four days. However, people living nearby are still coming to grips with how inconvenient the days of the DNC are going to be.

The headaches for people living near the United Center started this past Monday when parking restrictions first went into effect. Crews have been busy all week, putting up fencing and other security measures.

Locals say there’s always traffic in a city as big as Chicago, but they still don’t have all the answers about how the security perimeter is going to work.

“We haven’t really been told ‘Can we walk through the secure area, can we not?’ I’m not in the security bubble, but I’m right on the perimeter so we haven’t been told if we can still walk through it?” said Josh Goralski.

“Are they going to stop me and let me pass? Can I get in my own apartment? I just want to go in and out of my home safely with my children, that’s what matters to me,” said Nikita Clark.

On Friday, navigating through all the chaos got a little more challenging, as full street closures and parking restrictions within the security perimeter took effect.

Action 2 News will be at the DNC. Our coverage from Chicago starts on Sunday.