Double standard – and special treatment – for Chicago’s supporters of Israeli violence

Coalition for Justice in Palestine
PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

Double standard – and special treatment – for Chicago’s supporters of Israeli violence

Police arrest Zionist protester for bringing handgun to pro-Israel protest. “If this had been a supporter of Palestine, his arrest would have been headline news,” say Palestinian supporters.

CHICAGO, July 23, 2014: Israel’s Chicago supporters must have mistaken West Madison Avenue for the West Bank, say activists opposed to Israel’s assault on Gaza – because they harassed and assaulted counter-protesters with impunity at a pro-bombing rally on Wednesday. One pro-Israel supporter was arrested for bringing a handgun to Stand With Israel’s Wednesday rally in support of Israel’s merciless assault on the people of Gaza.

Hundreds of opponents of Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza counter-protested the Wednesday pro-Israel rally, which featured an extreme racist view of the loss of Palestinian life in Gaza over the last two weeks. Palestinian supporters expressed frustration at the treatment they received at the hands of Chicago police.

The Chicago Tribune reported that police searched those attending the pro-Israel rally (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago-mideast-rally-20140722,0,2595096.story) – but they missed at least one pro-Israel individual packing a handgun, who was later arrested. Andrew Glatz (https://www.facebook.com/aglatz), who was ultimately the lone arrest at Wednesday’s rally, sells real estate – including in Trump Towers -- and is an ardent supporter of Israel’s violent assault on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. His Facebook page is peppered with photos of Glatz with other right-wing Israeli supporters, as well as shots of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel from an August 2012 fundraiser Glatz attended at the Pegasus restaurant. Glatz also included a photo of himself with Illinois governor Pat Quinn. Journalist Kevin Gosztola has detailed Glatz’ extremist views in a report that dropped on Thursday: http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2014/07/23/pro-israel-real-estate-broker-who-sells-condos-in-trump-tower-arrested-at-rally-for-carrying-gun/

“The Zionists at Wednesday’s rally believe that the lives of invading Israeli soldiers in Gaza are of more value than the lives of over 600 Palestinian civilians who’ve been killed in Israel’s latest onslaught, including over 130 children,” says Hatem Abudayyeh of the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine (CJP) and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network. “At the same time, our counter-protest was corralled and policed like a criminal enterprise, when it was the pro-Israel protesters who harassed and assaulted us. Chicago police commanders need to learn from our community’s experience, and stop giving a privileged place to the other side, which is advocating an agenda of dispossession and murder.”

That bias – and the impunity that pro-Israel protesters were afforded at Wednesday’s action – mirrors the treatment of Israeli settlers and security forces across Palestine, say activists. A number of pro-Israel protesters crossed the street to the Palestinian protest to taunt and threaten protesters, who included American Jews opposed to Israel’s war on Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian American youth. Yet the Chicago police sent their mounted police and others to face off not with the approaching mob from the Israeli side but against the Palestinians and their allies.

CJP leader Senan Shaqdeh says the reverse would have been unthinkable. “If our side had done that -- gone across the street to disrupt the Israeli demonstration -- the police would’ve been all over us,” he says.

Glatz, wrapped in an Israeli flag, acted so aggressively that the police detained him -- and when they searched him, discovered he was carrying a concealed weapon. He’s been charged with a misdemeanor.

Kristin Szremski of the American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), says the double standard on Chicago’s streets reflects the daily reality on the ground for Palestinians at home. “We’re not surprised by the violence of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and the Israeli settlers and racists they support,” she says. “Palestinian teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir’s torture and killing is just one example of this kind of atrocity that Palestinians routinely experience.”

Palestinian teenager Abu Khdeir was tortured and burned alive by right-wing Israeli settlers: http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/video-shows-faces-suspected-killers-palestinian-teen

“Glatz brought a handgun to a protest!” adds Szremski. “In Chicago, we expect that the violent offender who threatened the young people in our community will be dealt with the full force of the law, unlike the impunity with which Israel deals with the settlers on Palestinian land.”

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Press release: Counterprotest will tell ‘Stand With Israel’ rally: “Stop excusing Israeli atrocities.”
http://pastebin.com/LK8URsmA

Coalition for Justice in Palestine

Counterprotest will tell ‘Stand With Israel’ rally: “Stop excusing Israeli atrocities.”
Noon, Tuesday, July 22, Israeli Consulate, 500 W. Madison St., Chicago

Organizers put thousands on Chicago streets Sunday to oppose Israeli bombardment of Gaza -- and are mobilizing Tuesday counter-protest as outrage grows over Israeli execution video: http://bit.ly/1nuHb5Y

In an effort to salvage Israel’s plummeting international reputation in the wake of growing evidence of war crimes against Gaza civilians, the right-wing Zionist group Stand With Us is rallying to support the Israeli government at noon on Tuesday, July 22 at Chicago’s Israeli consulate at 500 W. Madison. Protesters will be there to oppose that rally -- and put the lie to Israeli spin that claims it has the “most compassionate army in the world.” The group put thousands on Chicago’s streets Sunday to oppose Israel’s increasingly lethal assault on the people of Gaza, and its Facebook page for today’s counterprotest had drawn almost 1,000 participants by Tuesday night.

Israeli military forces have now rocketed three hospitals in Gaza, flattening one and severely damaging another Tuesday, killing five and injuring another 50, including one health worker whose hand was blown off. Israel has also targeted schools, water treatment facilities and other civilian infrastructure, killing close to 600 -- overwhelmingly civilians, including more than 150 children -- and injuring at least 3,600 more in two weeks of constant attack. The death toll has more than doubled since Israel began its ground invasion last Thursday, flattening densely populated neighborhoods with a constant barrage of shells and bombs. Rescue workers fear many dozens more dead lie among the rubble.

Yesterday, video surfaced (http://bit.ly/1nuHb5Y) of an Israeli sniper shooting and wounding a civilian looking for injured relatives -- then pumping another two bullets into the injured man as he cried for help, killing him, while medical and rescue workers looked on helplessly. Israel also shelled the ambulance in the video, killing paramedic Faud Jaber and news cameraman Khaled Hammad. The video, which has gone viral, has sparked a growing wave of outrage.

Gaza’s Red Crescent Society says Israel is deliberately targeting medical facilities, 77% of which have sustained damage and all of which face critical shortages of medicines and supplies as the need for their services has surged.

The reality on the ground puts the lie to Israeli spin and distortions, say protesters, who argue that Israel’s systemic abuse of Palestinians under occupation and its ruthless assault on blockaded Gaza civilians tears at Israel’s claim to victim status. They’ve vowed to meet Israeli apologists at every opportunity. "We won't allow warmongers to gather unopposed in our city, and we are asking everyone to come out and protest with us," says coalition member Nesreen Hasan.

Tuesday’s counter protest is being convened by the Coalition for Justice in Palestine, whose members include American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Chicago Islamic Center, Islamic Community Center of Illinois, Mosque Foundation, Palestinian American Community Center, Palestinian American Council, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)-Chicago, and United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN). The action is being supported by the ANSWER Coalition, the Anti-War Committee-Chicago, the Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, Jews for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestine Solidarity Group.

Facebook Event - Over 1,000 say they will attend: https://www.facebook.com/events/637353736372609/

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Photos from the action:

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News Coverage:

CBS 2 Chicago: Palestinian, Israeli Supporters Hold Opposing Rallies Downtown
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/07/22/palestinian-israeli-supporters-hold-opposing-rallies-downtown/

WGN 9 Chicago: VIDEO - Pro-Israeli and Palestinian supporters rally in West Loop
http://wgntv.com/2014/07/22/pro-israeli-palestinian-supporters-rally-in-west-loop/

Chicago Sun-Times (with reporter's tweets): Hundreds rally in front of Israeli consulate
http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/hundreds-rally-front-israeli-consulate-support-israel/tue-07222014-1223pm

Chicago Tribune: Dueling protests over Gaza tie up Chicago traffic
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago-mideast-rally-20140722,0,2595096.story