DePaul University ‘outraged’ after two Jewish students attacked by masked assailants

Two Jewish students at DePaul University were beaten by a pair of masked assailants in what Chicago police are investigating as a hate crime.

The university said the two students were “visibly showing their support for Israel” when they were assaulted at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday in front of the Student Center on the Lincoln Park campus in Chicago.

“During this incident, an offender verbally engaged the victim and made antisemitic remarks before repeatedly striking the victim,” the Chicago Police Department said in a Thursday community alert.

DePaul President Robert Manuel said the attackers, both young men, punched the Jewish students, who were injured but did not seek medical treatment.

“We are outraged that this occurred on our campus. It is completely unacceptable and a violation of DePaul’s values to uphold and care for the dignity of every individual,” Mr. Manuel said in a statement

The attack came a few hours before dozens of protesters descended on the Chicago Loop Synagogue, harassing attendees as they arrived to hear a speech by an Israeli journalist. Two people were arrested for criminal trespass and property damage, police said.

BREAKING UPDATE: Police share photos of 2 wanted in connection with attack of Jewish DePaul students on Lincoln Park campus.https://t.co/U3hfYkiUsW pic.twitter.com/xfv0CILotz

— WGN TV News (@WGNNews) November 8, 2024

The incident represents a troubling escalation of the antisemitic activity that swamped U.S. universities during the 2023-24 academic year after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians, which prompted Israel to declare war.

Anti-Israel protesters held numerous protests, built encampments and interfered with campus access, but there were few actual assaults on Jewish students.

The students targeted at DePaul were a former Israel Defense Forces soldier and a leader of the Students Standing with Israel organization, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

DePaul, a private Catholic university, was one of dozens of educational institutions where protesters built anti-Israel encampments last semester on school property.

The tent city was disassembled by Chicago police and campus security in May, 17 days after it was erected, an operation that resulted in two arrests, according to the university.