Skokie police investigating pair of ‘anti-Semitic’ incidents involving juveniles at local parks

The Skokie Police Department is investigating two altercations that reportedly took place in local parks this past weekend that included groups of juveniles reportedly using antisemitic language. 

Skokie police responded to Lorel Park, 8135 Lorel Ave., on Friday evening, April 17, for a reported incident involving a small group of girls, according to a news release the Skokie Police Department posted on Sunday. 

During the course of the encounter, members of one group questioned the religious identity and national origin of the others, and made comments about their appearance and identities, the release says. 

The offending group reportedly also threw woodchips and pulled the alleged victims’ hair, while one girl reportedly was struck with an open hand.

In the second incident, according to the release, Skokie police were notified on Saturday afternoon, April 18, about an altercation earlier that day at Central Park, 9350 Central Park Ave., involving preteen and early-teen youth playing basketball.

Three of the individuals from the Jewish community reported that opposing youth used antisemitic language during the course of a game, police say. The dispute reportedly escalated, and one individual was punched, the release says.

Different groups of young people were involved in the two incidents, but in both, the complainants said that offenders used “anti-Semitic language or made comments questioning their national origin or religious identity,” according to the release.

The Skokie Police Department has been in contact with all those involved in the Lorel Park incident and is in the process of identifying individuals involved in the Central Park incident, the release says. 

The reported incidents come in the wake of a confrontation in Shawnee Park in October 2025, when juveniles also used antisemitic language. 

In that case, which police ruled a hate-crime, a group of children chased another group and one teen fired gel pellets from a toy gun at the fleeing individuals, striking one in the leg. 

More than 100 people later gathered at the Skokie Police Department for a public discussion about the incident, and community members expressed frustration about the village’s communication of the incident and suggested ways to prevent something similar in the future.  

If individuals have any information regarding the two latest incidents, Skokie police ask they contact the Skokie Police Department at (847) 982-5900.

The 24-hour Skokie Crime Tip Hotline is 847-933-TIPS (8477). Text-A-Tip is available 24 hours a day by texting “Skokie” and your tip to 226787.

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