Chicago Jews and Muslims Face a Wave of Hate After Oct. 7
During Maggie Slavin’s first months at the Chicago branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the chapter’s civil rights department dealt with a handful of Islamophobic incidents. That all changed on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing conflict.
"Hate crimes and hate incidents happened to Muslims for sure, but it wasn’t nearly as overwhelming as it is now," said Slavin, who started working as operations manager at CAIR-Chicago a couple of months before the attack.
Hate incidents against the Jewish community also saw a similar spike after Oct. 7, according to Sarah van Loon, regional director of the Chicago chapter of the American Jewish Committee.
"If pre-October 7 of last year antisemitism was a slow-burning fire, it’s now a five-alarm blaze," van Loon said.
In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Jewish and Muslim communities in the Chicago area have dealt with increased incidents of hate. It’s led them to bolster security at their places of worship and created feelings of unease in their daily lives.
Advocacy groups for both communities warn about the rise in hate-motivated attacks against Jewish and Muslim people following the start of the war.
There have been more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since Oct. 7, according to ADL preliminary data. This is the highest number of incidents ever recorded in any single year period since ADL started tracking in 1979. These newly released figures, from Oct. 7, 2023, to Sept. 24, 2024, represent a more than 200% increase compared to the incidents reported during the same period a year before, which saw 3,325 incidents.
The most prominent of the local hate incidents was the Oct. 14, 2023, stabbing death of Wadee Al-Fayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy from Plainfield Township. The family’s landlord, Joseph Czuba, has been charged with fatally stabbing the boy and wounding his mother, Hanan Shaheen, in what authorities have said was a hate crime.
The recent hate incidents have also included vandalism at mosques and synagogues, leaflets left on cars, flags removed from yards, and swastikas painted on gravestones.
Slavin, who converted to Islam in 2019 and married into a Muslim family, said the boy’s death reverberated throughout her community.
"That just really rocked everyone in the Muslim community," Slavin said. She added that the first few months after the Oct. 7 attacks were "extremely difficult."
Slavin said she was discouraged when Wadee’s death didn’t lead to an easing in anti-Muslim rhetoric. She continued to see dehumanizing language and narratives online and on television, especially toward those who showed support toward the people in Gaza.
According to prosecutors, prior to the attack, Czuba had become increasingly angered after listening to coverage of the Israeli attack on conservative talk radio.
Indeed, Wadee’s killing did not lead to a tonal shift regarding the war. Several smaller-scale incidents motivated by prejudice against Jewish and Muslim people, such as vandalism at mosques and synagogues, leaflets left on cars, flags removed from yards, and swastikas painted on gravestones, have continued to occur across the Chicago area over the past year.
In April, antisemitic flyers were found on more than 80 cars in Lincoln Park on the North Side. The flyers, some of which were placed in clear bags that contained what appeared to be rat poison, attacked the Anti-Defamation League. They included a website linked to the Goyim Defense League, which the ADL described as a "loose network of individuals connected by their virulent antisemitism."
Local Ald. Timmy Knudsen, who strongly condemned the flyers, said the incident was an escalation after another instance of flyers being left in the area. He said the presence of the apparent rat poison was alarming.
"We were all just terrified from that," he said, adding that the incident stoked fears in the Jewish community.
"The thing about hate speech is it makes you feel, and residents really described this to us, it makes you feel like you’re being watched," he said.
Conclusion
The past year has been marked by a significant surge in hate incidents against both Jewish and Muslim communities in the Chicago area. From vandalism at places of worship to dehumanizing language online, the consequences of hate cannot be ignored. We must stand together against this tide of hatred and work towards a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current state of hate incidents in the Chicago area?
A: According to recent data, there have been more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the US since Oct. 7, 2023, representing a 200% increase compared to the same period a year before.
Q: What is the impact of hate incidents on local communities?
A: Hate incidents have led to increased security measures at places of worship, feelings of unease in daily life, and a sense of being constantly watched.
Q: What is being done to address the rise in hate incidents?
A: Advocacy groups for both Jewish and Muslim communities are working to raise awareness about the issue and promote unity and understanding. Local authorities are also increasing patrols and implementing additional security measures to protect communities.
