Violence and Tension in Skokie
On October 22, a shot was fired at opposing pro-Palestine and pro-Israel rallies in Skokie, Illinois. The man fired in the air near a group of pro-Palestine supporters. Although the shot didn’t injure anyone, there were two arrests, some people were pepper-sprayed, and there was a hit-and-run victim who suffered minor injuries.
This took place outside the Ateres Ayala banquet hall which was holding a pro-Israel rally. The event was held by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization. Additionally, other Jewish organizations took part in the event, with more than 1,000 participants showing up.
First, there was a separate prayer rally that pro-Israel protestors planned to hold in Federal Plaza in the Loop on Sunday. However, when the group received threats, they canceled the event. Secondly, a group of pro-Palestine protestors were planning a counter-protest at the same location. Yet, when the pro-Israel rally was canceled they moved the counter-protest to the Skokie location.
The National Chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Hatem Abudayyeh, made a statement about the decision. He said that they moved the protest to the new location because the groups at the Skokie rally “must be confronted as the racist apologists for Israel that they are.”
What Took Place
A group of 200 pro-Palestine counter-protestors arrived outside the banquet around 4:00 p.m. They were kept at a distance by an outside police presence that was already there. Then around 5:30 p.m. some of the protestors moved locations after they said they were being threatened.
Skokie police also made a statement saying that, “Several disturbances broke out on the perimeter of the event and in Lincolnwood.”
A video taken during the tense protest shows a man driving a black sedan driving toward and into a crowd of protestors. Luckily, only leaving one person with mild injuries. The driver then got out of his car and was verbally attacked and surrounded by the crowd.
He then proceeds to take a gun out and fire a shot into the air making the crowd disperse. He is then seen being chased and chasing protestors. Until he was detained by the police. Witnesses reported that the driver’s car had been covered in Israeli flags.
After the shooting incident, pro-Israel supporters came out of the banquet and confronted pro-Palestine protestors. During this, a man from the banquet came out draped in an Israeli flag and tried to take a Palestinian flag away from a protestor.
After a small squabble, the aggressor then pulled out a can of mace and sprayed it into the crowd. He managed to spray multiple protestors, a police officer, and a Sun-Times reporter.
The man was then disarmed by the crowd and also taken into custody. Two of the victims are looking to press charges.
Midwest Regional Director of Simon Weisenthal Center, Alison Pure-Slovin, explained the incident. “People have the right to have their voice. I’m just sorry that it disrupted the voice that we tried to create as well.”
Another Violent Incident
This isn’t the only recent violent incident that has taken place in Illinois due to conflict over the Israeli-Palestinian war. In a tragic event that took place in Plainfield, a mother and her six-year-old son were the victims of a violent hate crime.
The Muslim family was attacked by their landlord due to their religious beliefs and the growing conflict between Palestine and Israel. The mother, Hanaan Shahin, and her son Wadea Al Fayoume were attacked in their home.
Shahin received 12 stab wounds. However, she was able to lock herself in her bathroom and contact the authorities. Unfortunately, she was not able to grab her son. He would succumb to his injuries.
Sadly, Shahin was not able to go to her own son’s funeral service due to her receiving treatment in the hospital at the time.
US Attorney General, Merrick Garland, states how incidents like this will raise the fear of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities in the U.S.. As well as inspire violent and hateful attacks, endangering their safety.
Written By AriAnna Rathers
Sources:
Chicago Sun-Times– Shot fired, crowd maced at pro-Palestinian protest outside Israeli solidarity event in Skokie
CNN News-Mother of 6-year-old killed in alleged anti-Muslim attack near Chicago released from hospital after being stabbed over a dozen times
UN News– Israel-Palestine: Gaza death toll passes 5,000 with no ceasefire in sight
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of John W. Iwanski’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of John W. Iwanski’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
