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Crowds gather in Chicago to honor Palestinian lives lost in conflict, Plainfield boy's tragic death

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Published  October 19, 2023 6:15pm CDT
Israel Hamas war
FOX 32 Chicago

Groups gather in Chicago to stand in solidarity with Palestinian victims

There were three separate events on Thursday that supported the same cause: to back Palestine. But each demonstration told a story differently.

CHICAGO - In Chicago, three separate events took place on Thursday in support of Palestine, drawing attention to the ongoing concerns and conflicts in the Middle East.

The U.S. Palestinian Community Network, or USPCN, chose to livestream the events on Facebook Live, allowing a wider audience to participate and engage in the issues.

One of the events involved a peaceful sit-in at the office of U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, with close to 30 protesters in attendance. However, Skokie Police reported that seven of the demonstrators were arrested for criminal trespassing when they refused to vacate the office premises.

The groups' primary demands revolved around urging Congresswoman Schakowsky to become a stronger advocate for Palestinian rights and to align her actions with the progressive values she professes. FOX 32 made an effort to reach out to Congresswoman Schakowsky for a response, but did not receive a reply as of Thursday.

Hatem Abudayyeh, the USPCN National Chair, emphasized the importance of words and their potential impact, referencing the tragic case of a 6-year-old boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, who was brutally attacked and killed last weekend.

"Only 6 years old and stabbed 26 times. So don’t tell me that words don’t matter and that even Schakowsky is not inciting violence," Abudayyeh said.

On the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) campus, students gathered to pay their respects to Wadea Al-Fayoume and the numerous other individuals affected by the ongoing conflict. Candles shaped in the likeness of Palestine were lit to commemorate those who have lost their lives in the overseas strife.

A Palestinian UIC student voiced their empathy for those in Gaza.

"I don't have time to focus on myself or focus on anything else because I know that people in Gaza are really going through it right now."

Additionally, near Irving Park, community members, including men, women, and children, came together at a Muslim Community Center to pray for Palestine. The gathering highlighted the importance of not only prayer but also taking action to address the pressing issues at hand.

"As we know that praying by itself is not going to move anything, you're going to have to pray, and you have to have some actions, don't we?" said one of the Muslim center leaders.