By Illinois Review
Anti-war activists, fully masked, gathered in a room at the Teamsters Union headquarters in Chicago to discuss how to disrupt the Democratic National Convention in August – broke out in chants when they learned about Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel where 300 missiles and drones were launched over the weekend.
Video that captured the moments in real time, recorded activists chanting “hands off Iran.” Videos also recorded the moment when activists were taught how to chant “Death to America, Death to Israel” in Farsi – the official language of Iran.
The meeting has generated national attention and is leaving local and national Democrats with heartburn – apprehensive to show too much support for Israel, as anti-war and anti-Israeli protesters prepare to descend upon Chicago for the Democratic National Convention in August. In January, Chicago’s City Council passed a cease-fire resolution, angering the local Jewish community. And just recently, three elected officials that represent the Jewish community, declined an invitation to meet with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, writing, “The October 7 terrorist attack on Israel has ignited the most visceral epidemic of antisemitic hatred that we have witnessed in our lives, including right here in Chicago.”
The letter also made reference to a resolution in Chicago’s City Council that condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel – but did not receive unanimous support. The letter argued that the lack of unanimous support “was a stunning failure in leadership and a clear message to the Jewish community that hatred and near-violence is welcome in the halls of the Chicago City Council.”
The letter ends with, “True change can only start at the top. Before calling for a roundtable on antisemitism, a true leader should begin by demonstrating a modicum of empathy for the Jewish community – we have seen none of that.”
Earlier on Monday, pro-Palastenian protestors blocked traffic on the Kennedy Expressway access road to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The protestors had signs that said “Free Palastine” and “Stop Genocide.” The group leading the protest, posted on their Instagram page, “O’Hare International Airport is one of the largest in the country, and there will be NO business as usual while Palestinians suffer at the hands of American funded bombing by Israel.”
The Democratic National Convention will be in Chicago August 19-22.
