Jewish leaders urge Chicago Mayor Johnson to create antisemitism task force

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Jewish leaders across Chicago are calling out Mayor Brandon Johnson.

They say he's not doing enough to protect their community.

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Jewish leaders are demanding Johnson create a task force dedicated to antisemitism. It's something they say they already outlined with thorough action steps.

"I am here to demand that Mayor Johnson protect Chicago jews. Without saying a word, the mayor of the city of Chicago has made himself perfectly clear, he does not care about the safety of the Jewish community," said Rebecca Weininger, Anti-Defamation League Midwest senior regional director.

It's a desperate plea to Johnson with clear demands.

"Establish the task force your commission recommended, name a leader accountable for this work, set timelines, make progress public," Chicago Sinai Congregation Rabbi Amanda Greene said.

Alderman Debra Silverstein backs the idea of a task force.

"There needs to be mandatory anti-Jewish bias training for city employees, for teachers of our children, for the police department. We need to educate people," said Silverstein, who represents the 50th Ward.

Several Jewish organizations stood together Wednesday, saying the city needs to do more to protect Jewish people.

The Chicago Commission on Human Relations issued a report last July.

It found there was a 58% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes in Chicago from 2023 to 2024.

According to Chicago police data analyzed by the ABC7 Chicago data team, there were 47 reported anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2025, and 79 incidents the year before that.

"I was shot Oct. 26, 2024 because I was Jewish," Etan Bleichman said.

Bleichman says he was shot in the back while on his way to synagogue.

"He tried to finish what he started and fired at me, the ambulance and the brave police," Bleichman said.

While he says security around synagogues has increased, he says more work needs to be done, starting with the mayor.

They are calling on him to approve unanimously approved recommendations from the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. It's something they say has sat on his desk with no action.

"Jewish people in the city need to not feel like they have a target on their back, the same target that I had on my back," Bleichman said.

"We are very resilient. We are very strong, and we're going to get through this," Silverstein said.

The mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.