Illinois officials condemn hate and violence stemming from Middle East conflict

[October 24, 2023]  By Andrew Hensel | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and others are urging the public to stay safe after the Middle East conflict led to violence in the Midwest.

Earlier this month, conflict arose in the Middle East as militant forces from the Hamas-terrorist group carried out several terror attacks on Israel, leading to over 1,600 people being killed. Israel retaliated with assaults on Gaza that continued into Monday.

On Friday, two Illinois residents, Natalie and Judith Raanan of Evanston, were released from captivity in Gaza after being kidnapped while visiting family. Also over the weekend, a Naperville man allegedly fired a gun into the air during a pro-Palestinian rally after clashing with protesters. This comes after Wadea Al-Fayoume, a 6-year-old Plainfield resident, was fatally stabbed 26 times by the family's landlord allegedly over the Middle East conflict.

Last week, an attorney with the Illinois comptroller’s office was fired over anti-Semitic comments she made on Instagram. A screenshot of the Instagram exchange was reported and the comptroller’s officer was made aware of the posts. According to a report by Reuters, one of the remarks the lawyer allegedly wrote invoked the Holocaust. The office contacted the employee, then fired her after they said she admitted to some of the comments.

On Monday, Pritzker joined the Arab American Bar Association in condemning hate and violence and said he is worried about the safety of Illinoisans.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Monday at an event with the Arab American Bar Association of Illinois
Facebook / Governor JB Pritzker

"I am genuinely concerned for people's personal safety," Pritzker said. "Threats can transform into violence. We have seen that and we all know it way too well."

Raoul attended the event with Pritzker and shared his thoughts on the reported violence in Illinois stemming from the Middle East conflict.

"We join unequivocally in condemning hate crimes and hate speech," Raoul said. "Whether it occurs in the workplace, at educational institutions, on social media or in the community at large."

Pritzker said leaders need to step up.

"Now it is clear. It is up to us, those left grieving in the wake of these tragedies, to stand together against the very hatred that took them hostage or killed them," Pritzker said.

It's unclear if any pronouncement will be made by the Illinois General Assembly with fall veto session beginning Tuesday. According to Politico, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said they will be focusing on state issues during this week's veto session rather than getting involved in the Middle East conflict.