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To: Chicago Police Department, Cook County's State Attorney's Office, Chicago Commission on Human Rights, Illinois Attorney General

Justice for Islamophobic Attack: Demand Action and Hate Crime Investigation at the DNC Now

Petition Text

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.

Why is this important?

This incident reflects a deeply troubling trend of intolerance and hate within our society, particularly against marginalized communities. It is critical that the Chicago Police Department take swift and decisive action to ensure that justice is served and that the rights of all individuals, regardless of their religious or ethnic background, are protected.

Failure to address this incident adequately could set a dangerous precedent, where hate-fueled violence and discrimination are allowed to persist unchecked. It is imperative that the Chicago Police Department upholds the values of justice, equality, and the rule of law by taking the necessary steps to investigate and prosecute those responsible for this heinous act. 

Violence against women and political violence have no place in civilized society.

Media Covering Incident

1. Miami Herald. (2024, August). Seminole Woman Protesting Israel-Hamas War Assaulted at Democratic Convention. Retrieved from https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article291226080.html

2. Newsweek. (2024, August). DNC Delegate Joe Biden Sign Incident: Nadia Ahmad, Israel-Palestinian Conflict Protest at Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/dnc-delegate-joe-biden-sign-nadia-ahmad-israel-palestinian-conflict-protest-gaza-1941829

3. Notus. (2024, August). Muslim Delegate DNC Protest Charges Blocked Access. Retrieved from https://www.notus.org/democrats/muslim-delegate-dnc-protest-charges-blocked-access

4. Democracy Now. (2024, August). DNC Biden Speech Palestine Protest. Retrieved from https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/20/dnc_biden_speech_palestine_protest

5. Orlando Sentinel. (2024, August 22). Seminole Woman Protesting Israel-Hamas War Assaulted at Democratic Convention. Retrieved from https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/08/22/seminole-woman-protesting-israel-hamas-war-assaulted-at-democratic-convention/

6. The Intercept. (2024, August 20). DNC Harris, Gaza, Uncommitted Protest. Retrieved from https://theintercept.com/2024/08/20/dnc-harris-gaza-uncommitted-protest/ 

7. Associated Press. (2024, August). Israel-Hamas War: Joe Biden Michigan Democratic National Convention Chicago. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-joe-biden-michigan-democratic-national-convention-chicago-1070a93c8c874e158a782bfb09fbf53b

8. ABC News. (2024, August). Harris' Shift in Tone on Gaza Earns Limited Leeway at DNC. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harris-shift-tone-gaza-earns-limited-leeway-dnc/story?id=112945890

9. New York Post. (2024, August 20). Anti-Israel Protestor Smacked with 'We Love Joe' Sign During Biden's DNC Speech. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2024/08/20/us-news/anti-israel-protestor-smacked-with-we-love-joe-sign-during-bidens-dnc-speech/

10. WION News. (2024, August). Watch: Biden Supporters Heckle Protesters Displaying 'Stop Arming Israel' Sign at DNC. Retrieved from https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-biden-supporters-heckle-protesters-displaying-stop-arming-israel-sign-at-dnc-751488

11. The New Republic. (2024, August). DNC Responds to Gaza Protest in the Worst Way. Retrieved from https://newrepublic.com/post/185056/dnc-responds-gaza-protest-worst-way

How it will be delivered

The petition will be submitted electronically to the entities involved.

Updates

2024-09-08 15:15:24 -0400

U.S. Senator Jack Reed Condemns Assault of Woman by Laborers’ Union at DNC https://www.golocalprov.com/news/VIDEO-US-Senator-Reed-Condemns-Assault-of-Woman-By-Laborers-Union-at-DNC

2024-09-07 16:30:32 -0400

500 signatures reached

2024-09-02 12:37:43 -0400

100 signatures reached

2024-09-01 22:54:28 -0400

50 signatures reached

2024-09-01 19:10:57 -0400

25 signatures reached

2024-09-01 16:56:14 -0400

10 signatures reached