Anti-Israel rioters gathered outside the home of Jewish Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., in the early hours of Saturday.
Schneider, who lives in the quiet Jewish suburb of Highland Park north of Chicago, was the target of a loud protest that took place at about 2:30 a.m.
A video from the protest shows about 40 protesters with their faces and heads covered, sounding sirens, beating drums and holding signs reading “Schneider has defunded UNRWA, we denounce genocide” and “Israel bombs, Illinois pays.” Members of UNRWA, short for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, were accused of aiding Hamas terrorists in their attack on Israel on October 7.
“It is our right to rebel, the Zionists can go to hell,” protesters chanted as they marched down the street.
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Anti-Israel protesters rallied loudly outside the home of Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., early Saturday in Highland Park, a predominantly Jewish suburb of Chicago. (Reuters/Sarah Silbiger)
The city of Highland Park said police received noise complaints at 2:43 a.m. and arrived at the scene minutes later. The crowd dispersed by 3:15 a.m.
“The city unequivocally condemns anti-Semitism and all acts of hate, and stands in solidarity with our Jewish community,” the city of Highland Park said in a statement.
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Highland Park police did not make any arrests. The city defended the decision, writing: “Officers make arrests and detain individuals only in response to actions or behaviors identified in the state penal code that rise to the level of misdemeanors or felonies. Had the protesters not immediately complied with police orders and voluntarily dispersed, actions for which citations could have been issued and arrests made under the state penal code may have occurred.”
Anti-Israel protesters have repeatedly attacked Democrats they see as too supportive of Israel during its war against Hamas following the October 7 terror attack. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“It is unfortunate that rather than seeking constructive dialogue with Congressman Schneider, a group of individuals hiding their faces chose to taunt and intimidate a predominantly Jewish neighborhood on the Jewish Sabbath in the middle of the night,” a Schneider spokesperson told FOX 32 Chicago.
“It is even more disturbing that they have chosen to harass a community preparing to commemorate the second anniversary of the Highland Park mass shooting, a shared tragedy that was fueled by hate. The Congressman is always willing to meet and sit down with anyone. I encourage those who disagree with his views to seek a conversation in the light of day rather than upsetting and traumatizing families in the dark of night,” the spokesperson added.
Rep. Schneider's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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A spokesman for Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., criticized anti-Israel protesters for “hiding their faces” while intimidating “a predominantly Jewish neighborhood on the Jewish Sabbath in the middle of the night.” (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
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Anti-Israel protesters have repeatedly attacked Democrats they see as too supportive of Israel during its war against Hamas following the October 7 terror attack.
