President Robert Manuel condemns the targeted act as potential hate crime, investigation underway
Masked attackers injured and yelled antisemitic remarks at two Jewish students at DePaul University in Chicago last week.
“I’m appalled to share that the attack targeted two Jewish students at DePaul who were visibly showing their support for Israel,” university President Robert Manuel wrote in a statement to the private Catholic school.
The attackers punched the students, who were left injured but did not want medical treatment, Manuel stated.
According to the Chicago Police Department, one of the offenders “verbally engaged the victim and made antisemitic remarks before repeatedly striking the victim,” WFIN reported.
One of the students had a sign identifying himself as a “former member of the Israel Defense Forces,” according to the report.
In his statement, President Manuel called the incident “completely unacceptable and a violation of DePaul’s values to uphold and care for the dignity of every individual.”
He stated that the school is “working with the [CPD] to investigate this incident so that they can determine whether to classify it as a hate crime that targeted our students because of their Jewish identity.”
“We will do all we can to hold those responsible accountable for this outrageous incident,” the president stated.
Further, Manuel stated that for many Jewish students, “Israel is a core part of their Jewish identity.”
“Those students – and every student – should feel safe on our university campus,” he stated.
This is not the first targeted attack against Jewish students on campus this year. During a Rosh Hashanah celebration at a University of Michigan rabbi’s home last month, a masked gunman forced his way inside, threatened the students, and demanded valuables, The College Fix reported.
Additionally, in September, a UM student was assaulted by a group after confirming his Jewish identity when questioned. A few days later, another student was punched on the porch of a house known to be associated with a historically Jewish fraternity.
DePaul University is one of several schools across the country that have seen anti-Israel demonstrations and calls for divestment this year.
In May, DePaul students voted in favor of divestment from Israel. However, university leaders disagree with the call to divest and said they have no plans to do so.
MORE: 10 of the most extreme acts of campus antisemitism
IMAGE: ABC 7 Chicago/Youtube
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