CHICAGO — Chicago police are investigating after a city councilwoman says anti-Semitic flyers were left in her office in West Ridge on the city’s Northwest Side.
50th Ward Ald. Debra Silverstein said the flyers were related to the war between Israel and Hamas. She called it a targeted attack on her as a Jewish woman who represents the largest Orthodox Jewish community in the city.
“I feel like this was a personal, anti-Semitic hate incident,” Silverstein said.
Silverstein is the only Jewish member of the Chicago City Council. She is also a very vocal supporter of Israel.
About 11.50pm on Sunday, police said cameras may have captured two people setting up an exhibition outside the councilor’s office on West Devon Avenue.
“It said ‘Liberate Gaza.’ It said ‘shame on you, Debra,'” Silverstein said.
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The largest poster referred to Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl who was killed by the Israeli army on January 29 as she and her family fled the fighting in Gaza.
On Jan. 31, Silverstein was one of 23 council members who voted against a city council resolution calling for a ceasefire.
Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the deciding vote that ultimately approved the measure.
While no threats were made in this latest incident overnight, the councilman says it is endemic to what Jewish Americans face today.
“This is a very large Orthodox Jewish community and I am the only councilor, the only Jewish councilor. There were 23 of us who voted against the ceasefire, and yet my office is the one affected by this vandalism. So I feel like it was anti-Semitism,” Silverstein said.
Chicago police said the surveillance video will not be released publicly while their investigation continues.
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