In Chicago, Illinois, protesters assembled outside a movie theater during the showing of “Nova,” a documentary depicting Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israeli soldiers and civilians. These demonstrators obstructed the entrance to Logan Theatre and vocalized their disapproval by chanting “Shame on you!” at those attending. The situation turned violent when they assaulted a Jewish man who was carrying an Israeli flag.
A Jewish individual, preferring to remain unidentified for safety reasons, entered the premises carrying a small Israeli flag.
Protesters blocked the release of today’s edition of The New York Times from its printing facility in Queens due to the bias in its coverage of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/CjB39l98Gh
— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) March 14, 2024
“I didn’t engage with anyone. As we approached, I avoided making eye contact and refrained from gesturing toward anyone. I simply walked while holding the Israeli flag,” he recounted.
The man, in his late 50s, described how a protester tried to grab the flag from his hand. Suddenly, he found himself being attacked by multiple demonstrators.
“A group of them grabbed hold of me and forcefully pushed me into a parked car,” the victim recalled. “I was surrounded by approximately six or seven individuals who began striking me in the head.”
Pro-Palestine / anti-Oscars demonstration moving west on Sunset Boulevard. Numbers in the hundreds now. pic.twitter.com/HngNBkOSU5
— acatwithnews (@ACatWithNews) March 10, 2024
Fortunately, he escaped without any severe injury, but the assault left him deeply shaken and concerned for the safety of his Jewish children.
These protests highlight the escalating tensions in America surrounding the Israel-Palestinian conflict. As the nation grapples with how to respond to the Gaza conflict, the anti-Israel movement is escalating its efforts to condemn the Jewish state. Recently, a coalition of progressive organizations unveiled an initiative called “Reject AIPAC,” aimed at challenging the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
The ongoing debate over Middle East tensions shows no signs of abating. We can anticipate further protests and potential violent incidents from the anti-Israel camp in the foreseeable future.
