Police Update: Antisemitic incident in Skokie park was hate crime

As new details emerged this week about a disturbing antisemitic incident at a Skokie park, local police took to social media to address public outcry and release further information, including the classification of the incident as a hate crime.

On Oct. 7, according to police, a group of juveniles attacked another group of juveniles with antisemitic language and gel-pellet guns, striking at least one of the children.

The police update on Friday was published following a widely circulated Facebook post on Wednesday from a woman who says in the post that her daughter was a victim of the incident. In the post, she says that the offending group contained approximately 20 boys, some of whom wore masks.

Skokie Police’s update on Friday revealed new details on the attack and acknowledged “community members’ frustrations and concerns regarding information related” to the now closed investigation.

Skokie Mayor Ann Tennes first acknowledged the incident during a Tuesday Board of Trustees meeting before village officials published a Wednesday news release outlining what happened.

According to the Skokie Police Department, officers responded to Shawnee Park around 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 for a report of a conflict involving two groups of youths. All of the youths involved were reportedly minors, primarily between the ages of 13 and 15. 

One group told police they were playing basketball when another group of youths approached them, used antisemitic language and chased them onto a nearby street. 

During the encounter, police say, one of the youths in the offending group discharged gel pellets from a “gel blaster” toy gun and hit one of the children in the leg.

“Due to the antisemitic statements demonstrating bias as a likely motivator in the battery involving the gel blaster, the department has classified this incident as a hate crime,” the statement from Skokie police says. 

The Skokie Police Department reportedly classified the battery as a hate crime during their initial investigation on Oct. 7, but didn’t publicly acknowledge that information until Friday.

The Skokie Police Department investigated reports that an adult responded to the scene on Oct. 7 with a real gun, but police determined those reports “are not credible.”

Village police have identified and spoken to all juveniles known to be involved in the incident, as well as several adults who reported witnessing parts of the incident, the statement says.

While the department’s investigation is closed, village officials have declined to disclose whether any charges related to the altercation were filed, citing restrictions under the Illinois Juvenile Court Act. 

“Although the department’s investigation has concluded, the resolution of this incident will be ongoing,” the statement from Skokie Police says. “The Department understands that this incident is deeply concerning to the community, and is committed to ensuring that all residents feel safe and are safe in their neighborhoods.”

In accordance with the Village’s Procedure for Early Identification and Intervention in Initial Incidents of Hate, information about this Oct. 7 incident will be shared with the village’s Human Relations Commission.

The Human Relations Commission will apparently discuss the incident and then provide recommendations on how to engage the community moving forward through “public education, dialogue and collaboration.”

The Skokie Park District was not made aware of the incident at Shawnee Park until Oct. 21, a Thursday statement from the park district on social media says.

The district says it is prepared to work with the Human Relations Commission and Skokie Police Department as part of a “community-wide effort to address this hateful occurrence and prevent these behaviors in the future.”

“Skokie parks are for everyone, and all who visit must feel welcome and safe. If an incident occurs at one of our parks, programs, or facilities, we encourage you to let us know,” the park district statement says

“Reaching out to our staff or commissioners, or sharing your thoughts at a park board meeting, helps us make our parks better and safer for all. We can only take action when we’re aware of what’s happening,” the statement continues.

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