Petition to the Chicago Police Department: Demand for Justice and Investigation into Battery and Hate Crime
To the Chicago Police Department, Cook County's State Attorney's Office, and Chicago Commission on Human Rights
RE: Urgent Request for Charging and Investigating Battery, Theft, and Hate Crime at the Democratic National Convention
We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Chicago Police Department to take immediate and decisive action in response to a recent and alarming incident that occurred during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center held in Chicago on August 19, 2024. This incident involved a violent battery, theft, and a potential hate crime directed against a visible Muslim woman and an elected member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from Florida.
Incident Overview
On the evening of August 19, 2024, during a peaceful protest at the DNC convention, the victim, a law professor and DNC Member, was brutally attacked by five members of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA). The victim was exercising her constitutional right to free speech by holding a banner that read "Stop Arming Israel," when she was physically attacked by three of these men. The other two individuals forcibly removed the protest banner from her hands.
The following individuals participated in the attack.
- Brent Booker, General President, LiUNA
- Scott Gustafson, Regional Organizing Director at LiUNA, Old Rochester Region High
- Adam Lupino
This act of aggression was not only a violation of her rights but also appeared to be motivated by Islamophobia, given that the victim was the only visibly Muslim woman involved in the protest.
Our Demands
We respectfully and urgently call upon the Chicago Police Department to:
1. Charge the individuals involved with Battery and Theft in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
2. Launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident as a potential Hate Crime, given the Islamophobic nature of the attack.
3. Ensure that justice is served by holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions, sending a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated in our society.
4. Provide protection and support to the victim, who has already suffered significantly due to this unprovoked and discriminatory attack.
