Neo-Nazi Groups Declare 'National Day Of Hate,' Highland Park Responds

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Police are stepping up patrols at local synagogues in response to "non-specific threats" ahead of Saturday's "National Day of Hate."

Highland Park police urged the public to report any antisemitic or hate-motivated acts, including leafletting and criminal damage. State police called for vigilance and "heightened awareness" over the coming days.

"At this time, no specific threat has been made against Highland Park’s Jewish community or synagogues," Highland Park city officials said in a statement. "However, national hate groups have shared non-specific calls to distribute propaganda, post on social media, and commit acts of vandalism."

Highland Park "unequivocally condemns antisemitism and all acts of hate, standing in solidarity with our Jewish community against hate groups that aim to make individuals feel unsafe and unwelcome in their communities and houses of worship," it said.

According to a report from the Secure Community Network, a nonprofit safety and security organization for North American Jewish communities, the event will likely be limited to non-violent activities that are unlikely to affect operations at Jewish institutions. Since it has not been centrally organized, no specific times or locations have been advertised.

"Historically, white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and other extremist groups have promoted these events online, encouraging mass participation in an effort to conflate and amplify their minimal reach and impact. It should be noted, online chatter surrounding the campaign has remains limited and we assess, as in the past, this will not likely be a widespread event," it said.

The Chicago-based network encouraged the public not to confront anyone engaged in activities in response to the "Day of Hate," noting that instigators have previously recorded such interactions for leverage or to create conflict.

"The Secure Community Network has been actively monitoring online chatter and has not located any threats of violence or mentions of specific residential or commercial areas that may be targeted by this upcoming campaign," it said. "Given the increased and widespread media coverage of this anticipated campaign, law enforcement in many jurisdictions across the country have been made aware of the planned event(s) and, in some areas, have indicated they will maintain an increased presence near Jewish facilities."

A community alert from the Chicago Police Department 24th District Place of Worship Safety Advisory Team residents to call 911 immediately to report all suspicious vehicles, people or circumstances over the next week.

"This anti-Semitic proposed event has instructed like-minded individuals to drop banners, place stickers and players, and vandalize by way of graffiti as forms of biased so-called activism," it said. "These organizers request that potential actions be recorded and/or photographed to submit online."

Illinois State Police issued a statement Friday announcing there was "no information upon which to take action," and encouraging increased awareness.

"The Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center has been in communication with community organizations and will continue to monitor all intelligence platforms," it said.

Oren Segal, the vice president of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency the group that first declared the "National Day of Hate," Crew-319, as a “tiny Iowa-based neo-Nazi crew that distributes propaganda and engages in antisemitic stunts."

The 22-year-old Highland Park High School dropout awaiting trial on 117 felony charges stemming from the July 4, 2022, mass shooting at the Highland Park Independence Day parade had a history of antisemitic and racist online posts and reportedly took part several right-wing protests around the North Shore after legally purchasing five guns.

Last week, a Southern California man shot and attempted to kill two Jewish men as they left synagogues in West Los Angeles in separate incidents, targeting them for wearing clothing that identified them as Jewish, according to federal prosecutors, who have charged 28-year-old Jaime Tran with two counts of hate crimes punishable by life in prison over the shootings.