Pro-Palestinian Protesters Stage Sit-In At Lawmaker's Skokie Office

SKOKIE, IL — About two dozen people staged a peaceful sit-in at Rep. Jan Schakowsky's office in Skokie on Thursday, and seven were reportedly cited for trespassing.

Roughly 25 people entered the congresswoman's office Thursday afternoon and said they planned to occupy it until she signed on to proposed resolutions that would protect Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. A video livestreamed by organizers shows police officers detaining activists inside Schakowsky's office.

Schakowsky, who is a Jewish American, has said she supports Israel. On Oct. 7, she and other Jewish members of the House said in a statement they were "united in standing with and supporting our ally Israel as it responds to terrorist attacks from Gaza."

"Hamas has declared war on Israel and her people," the joint statement said. "Our alliance with Israel is unbreakable; our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad. We extend our condolences to the families of all those killed, our hopes for recovery for the many hundreds wounded, and pray for the safe and immediate return of all hostages taken."

The congressmembers said they also supported Israel’s right to defend itself, "and will do all we can to ensure Israel has the ability and capacity to restore and maintain its security and the safety of all its citizens."

Hatem Abudayyeh, chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, described Schakowsky as a "progressive except on Palestine, and so that means that she’s not a real progressive.”

“She is clearly an apologist for Israel, and has been even worse on the issue in the past 12 days, empowering the apartheid state to commit war crimes and genocide against Palestinians in Gaza," Abudayyeh said in a statement. “We are going to stay in her office until she gets here to talk to us, until she does what progressives are supposed to do, demand that Israel end its racist, murderous rampage against our people."

Abudayyeh told the Chicago Tribune that the 14-term Evanston Democrat has "got the blood of that beautiful little six-year-old boy who was killed a few days ago in Plainfield on her hands." Abudayyeh was referring to Wadea al-Fayoume, who was killed in a hate crime on Oct.14.

“It was her statements about how the, you know, the Palestinians are the enemy and the Palestinians are uncivilized,” Abudayyeh said.

Schakowsky responded to the protest in a statement to media outlets that she signed on to a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to protect innocent civilians in Gaza, send humanitarian aid and ensure safe passage.

"We must guarantee that all civilians, Palestinians, and Israelis are protected. I am doing everything in my power to end the violence as quickly as possible," Schakowsky said.

The protest was organized through the group U.S. Palestinian Community Network and other activist organizations. The congresswoman was in Washington, D.C. at the time, but spoke to them over the phone. The protesters arrived at her office around 3 p.m., and police told them the building was closed around 5 p.m. About a half-hour later, police said they ordered them to disperse.

Seven of the 25 protesters refused to leave and were cited for criminal trespassing, according to police. They were released and expected to appear in court Dec. 5.

No one was injured in the protest.

Last July, it was Schakowsky who was arrested and cited while engaging in civil disobedience during a protest. She and 16 other Democratic members of Congress were charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding after they blocked traffic in Washington, D.C., during a protest for abortion rights.

The protest also comes as the State Department issued a rare worldwide caution alert to Americans abroad.

"Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution," the State Department said.

U.S. citizens should stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and follow the State Department on social media channels, officials said.

Israel's military has punished Gaza with airstrikes as it tries to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its brutal rampage in Israel two weeks ago. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza, where hospitals are overwhelmed and rationing resources.

The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 4,100 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began.

More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during Hamas’ deadly incursion. Israel has said about 200 people were taken hostage into Gaza.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.