Jewish students attacked on DePaul Lincoln Park campus in antisemitic hate crime, CPD says
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two Jewish students visibly showing support for Israel were physically attacked on the Lincoln Park campus Wednesday afternoon, according to DePaul University officials.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The founder of the Chicago Jewish Alliance Josh Weiner said the students are traumatized after the attack near the student center.
Chicago police said they have determined the attack was a hate crime, saying the suspect "made anti-Semitic remarks before repeatedly striking the victim."
Police released images of the suspects in the attack.
Their injuries were minor and both Jewish students declined medical treatment.
Weiner said he wants the students to share their story when they're ready and he is appalled by the alleged antisemitism on college campuses.
READ ALSO | 2 Jewish students showing support for Israel attacked on DePaul Lincoln Park campus
In a message to students and staff, DePaul's president said:
"We are outraged that this occurred on our campus. It is completely unacceptable and a violation of DePaul's values to uphold and care for the dignity of every individual.".
One of the students is a reservist with the Israeli military, who the ABC7 I-Team has been reporting on for more than a year. The I-Team first met Max Long after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He was a reserve staff sergeant deployed with the Israeli Defense Forces.
Since then, the 27-year-old has moved to Chicago and enrolled at DePaul, where he would regularly stand on campus and offer to speak with passerby about the war.
"So once a week, now that I'm a student at DePaul University, I go to DePaul University with a sign that says, come talk about Israel with an IDF soldier. And I try to keep it, you know, as positive as possible. You know, people come up to me, ask me questions, and I'll always answer questions," he said.
Long was outside in the same space outside the main student center when he said two men in ski masks hit him from behind. Police said the attackers then pushed down a 21-year-old Jewish campus leader who was standing with Long.
Long had been deployed by the IDF on Oct. 7, 2023 as part of a counter-explosive unit. When he moved to Chicago this summer, DePaul became his new theater of operation, armed with words not weapons. He has engaged students and staff as they passed by, explaining his firsthand view of what's happening in Israel.
"I'm not a politician. I'll never give a political answer. I'm not a spokesperson for the IDF. I'm a spokesperson for my own story," he said. "I'm doing a disservice if I'm ignoring the Palestinian narrative, and that's really important to me, is to fully understand it and understand where there's a place to bridge the these under, you know, and align ourselves to a better future, because this has to end."
One student said he was frightened when he saw the alert.
"We can disagree with people, we cannot have the same views as people, but you shouldn't just act like that in this situation," student Aidan Smith said. "That's just not needed in our country right now."
The Anti-Defamation League Midwest Regional director released the following statement:
"Despite the warnings and concerns, Chicago's Jewish community continues to be the target of antisemitic harassment, vandalism and violence. ADL has tracked a 300% increase in the number of antisemitic incidents in Chicago over the last year. We can't help but ask: Is this the new normal for Jews in Chicago? We hope not.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked call DePaul Public Safety at 773-325-7777 in Lincoln Park or 312-362-8400 for the Loop campus.
A statement from the DePaul Students for Justice in Palestine claims the University should have taken steps to de-escalate campus anger and ensure safety for all.
