Illinois Rep's office attacked in July Fourth hate crime

Illinois Congressman Brad Schneider's Office Vandalized, Home Targeted by Protestors

Illinois Congressman Brad Schneider (D) took to Twitter on Friday to share an act of vandalism carried out in his Capitol Hill office over the Fourth of July holiday, calling it a "vile act of hate." Posters of over "100 people still held hostage in Gaza, including 8 Americans, were ripped from the wall, shredded, and tossed across the hallway." The act of vandalism, he said, was especially shameful as it occurred on "July 4, our country's Independence Day."

Sadly, it was but one of many hateful, un-American actions that took place across the country on the day we celebrate freedom and democracy.

Schneider, 62, who represents Illinois' 10th Congressional District and has served the state since 2017, is running for re-election in 2024. He expressed disgust at videos and reports of individuals calling July 4th a 'terrorist holiday' and burning American flags.

The Congressman also revealed that his home was "targeted last weekend at 2:30 AM by approx. 50 masked demonstrators banging drums, blowing horns, and screaming antisemitic chants." He linked these demonstrators to a group called Direct Actions for Palestine, which has an Instagram page dedicated to "highlighting direct actions for Palestine in Chicago." According to Reuters, the group has called on Schneider to support restoring U.S. funding for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). A clip from their Instagram page shows the group protesting outside Schneider's home, with the caption: "If we don't get no justice, then you don't get no sleep."

Schneider criticized the group, saying, "The same groups that were at my house earlier in the week marched through Chicago on July 4th, not calling for peace, but rather condemning the United States of America."

The U.S. Capitol Police Department told Reuters they are "aware and investigating" the incident but could not provide further details.