Gunfire, Pepper Spray, Hit-And-Run Outside Pro-Israel Rally In Illinois: Police

SKOKIE, IL — Police said a Chicago man pulled out a gun and fired it into the air during confrontations Sunday at a protest outside a rally in support of Israel in Skokie but the Cook County State's Attorney's Office declined to file criminal charges against him.

Another person was struck by a car in a hit-and-run. And at least three others, including a Chicago police officer, suffered minor injuries when they were pepper sprayed near the solidarity with Israel event at 3412 Touhy Ave., according to Lincolnwood and Skokie police.

Police estimated about 200 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the pro-Israel event, which was hosted by the Midwest regional office of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in conjunction with a dozen other organizations.

The U.S. Palestinian Community Network, which last week held a sit-in at the office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, organized the protest along with the Chicago Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression.

"We called for the demonstration today at the 'Solidarity With Israel' rally to send a clear message that our people are facing war crimes, starvation, and unrelenting bombing by Israel that must be ended immediately," representatives of the network said in a statement, "and we reject the notion that zionists should be able to gather and celebrate U.S.-based, Israeli genocide in our community while our people are being massacred back home."

It said demonstrators were "attacked by a number of pro-Israel supporters of genocide" as the event wrapped up. One man fired "military-grade pepper spray" at the crowd, according to the network's statement.

"Another Israel supporter pulled a gun and shot into the air after attempting to run protesters over with his car," it said.

Officers from several suburban agencies were called in to assist with crowd control after "several disturbances broke out on the perimeter of the event and in Lincolnwood," according to Skokie police.

According to Lincolnwood police, a 39-year-old Chicago man fired a gun into the air after they were "confronted by numerous individuals" in the Lincolnwood Town Center parking lot.

No one was injured and the man was immediately taken into custody.

Video posted to social media appears to show the gunman get out of a car, chase one person and become involved in a melee with the crowd. The crowd scatters as he appears to fire a shot and he is then confronted by officers at gunpoint before surrendering.

Prosecutors decided not to press charges against the gunman, who has a valid license to carry a concealed weapon, police said. He has since been released from custody.

"Lincolnwood Police presented the case to the Felony Review Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for prosecution," according to Deputy Chief Travis Raypole. "After reviewing the case, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office declined to prosecute the subject."

Another video from a nearby parking lot shows a man in a vest being followed by a police officer and a group of people with Palestinian flags before he is apparently tackled to the ground and beaten by a pair of protestors.

Skokie police said they arrested one person during a "disturbance" and later released them without charges.

Officers also took another person into custody in connection with the pepper spray, but there was no word Monday morning from a department spokesperson regarding whether any charges or citations had been issued.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a man who had been at the pro-Israel rally grabbed a Palestinian flag from a protester. When the protester tried to grab it back, the man sprayed a can of mace into the crowd, hitting one of the newspaper's reporters in addition to a police officer and several demonstrators.

As for the hit-and-run, a witness told the Sun-Times that the car that struck a protester had been covered in Israel flags. The person struck said his ankle had been run over. Lincolnwood police said the person declined to be taken to the hospital.

Simon Wiesenthal Center Midwest Director Alison Pure Slovin provided the following statement about the event.

“Last evening the Simon Wiesenthal Center organized an event in Solidarity with Israel which brought together numerous communities and faith groups," it said. "It was an incredible display of solidarity and support for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The Jewish community is mourning for the victims of terrorism and we are praying for the safe release of the hostages.”

Patch also asked for comment regarding the disturbances and arrests.

"We organized a Solidarity with Israel event on private property so that we could come together as a community," Pure Slovin said. "It was disturbing that pro-Palestinian/Hamas demonstrators blocked the roads, hindering access to those who came in peace."