Two Jewish Students Assaulted at DePaul University Amid Visible Support for Israel

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a troubling incident at DePaul University in Chicago, two Jewish students displaying visible support for Israel were assaulted by masked individuals on campus. The attack, which took place on DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus last Wednesday involved two male students in their twenties who were physically attacked by unknown assailants. One of the victims was struck in the face and body, while the other was pushed to the ground before the attackers fled the scene, according to the Chicago Police Department. Both students declined emergency medical assistance after the attack, which has since sparked significant concern among the university community and beyond.

In response to the DePaul University incident, university President Robert L. Manuel expressed outrage and affirmed a commitment to accountability, stating, “We will do all we can to hold those responsible accountable for this outrageous incident,” as was indicated in a report on the CNN web site. The Chicago Police Department is actively investigating the case to determine whether it should be classified as a hate crime targeting the students based on their Jewish identity. The university is also cooperating with law enforcement, calling attention to the importance of addressing incidents of hate and violence with urgency and transparency.

The assault, which is currently being investigated as a “simple battery,” has raised questions about potential motivations, with DePaul University working closely with the Chicago Police Department to determine whether it qualifies as a hate crime targeting the students for their Jewish identity, CNN reported. The police did not confirm whether the attackers wore masks in their official statement, leaving some details of the assault ambiguous as the investigation proceeds.

The nature of the students’ visible support for Israel remains unclear, but the incident has reignited discussions about campus safety and the treatment of Jewish students. This incident follows recent tensions on DePaul’s campus, including a protest in May that saw students calling for the university’s divestment from companies with business ties to Israel. The demonstration lasted over two weeks and was among the last of its kind in Chicago, according to CNN affiliate WLS. Such protests have mirrored a growing trend across American universities where issues related to Israel and the Palestinian conflict have led to heated debates and, at times, confrontations.

The university community has responded with calls for solidarity, with many students and faculty expressing concern over the attack and voicing support for the affected students. Campus officials have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Jewish community at DePaul and ensuring that such incidents are thoroughly investigated to prevent any recurrence.

CNN has highlighted that this attack is part of a broader pattern of rising incidents affecting Jewish students on college campuses across the United States, particularly those showing support for Israel. Many campuses are grappling with increased political polarization on issues related to Israel, which has, in some instances, escalated to physical confrontations and targeted harassment. As institutions strive to balance free expression with student safety, incidents such as the one at DePaul call attention to the challenges faced in fostering environments that protect the rights and safety of all students.

The DePaul incident follows an alleged hate crime in nearby West Rogers Park, where a suspect was charged in a recent attack on a Jewish man heading to a synagogue. Such incidents contribute to a pattern of rising threats to Jewish communities in the U.S. in response to the October 7th attacks on Israel by Hamas, as was noted in the CNN report. Preliminary data provided to CNN by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) indicates that threats against Jews in the U.S. have tripled since the attacks, highlighting a troubling escalation of anti-Semitic acts.

According to CNN, this is part of a broader uptick in bias-related incidents that have targeted both Jewish and Muslim communities. In 2023, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) received 8,061 reports of anti-Muslim bias, marking the highest number of such cases recorded in the organization’s 28-year history. These figures reveal a grim reality where religious and ethnic communities are increasingly vulnerable to hate crimes, often in reaction to far-reaching geopolitical issues.

CNN has reached out to the state’s attorney’s office for comment on the DePaul case, indicating a broader legal and administrative response to the incident. In a time of heightened sensitivity and division, institutions are facing increased pressure to respond decisively to bias-related crimes to protect their communities and demonstrate a zero-tolerance stance on hate-driven violence.