Demonstrations

Iran attack widens rift between activist left and Dem moderates The latest flashpoint in the Israel-Gaza war shows both sides calcifying their stances.

(Politico) Moments after Iran launched an attack on Israel, around 400 pro-Palestinian protesters in Chicago broke out in chants of “Hands off Iran!” The head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, claimed Iran “is responding […]

Government & Politics

Confusion over CAIR’s role in planned Biden meeting with Muslim leaders in Chicago The White House claims no one from CAIR was invited, but the group organized a letter claiming otherwise

(Jewish Insider) The White House was snubbed this week by the Muslim community in Chicago after Biden administration officials sought a meeting with Muslim, Arab and Palestinian American leaders. At least, that’s what several Muslim advocacy groups said on Thursday. More than […]

Government & Politics

Arab, Muslim and Palestinian leaders refuse to meet with White House aides in Chicago The protests continue, this time in the Windy City.

(Politico) More than three dozen Arab, Muslim and Palestinian-American leaders blasted a White House effort to meet with community organizations in Chicago over the administration’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a joint letter addressed to the White House, the groups criticized […]

Government & Politics

Orland Park mayor rejects Gaza cease-fire resolution, suggests those opposing U.S. interests ‘go to another country’ The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Keith Pekau’s comments, calling them ‘ignorant and dangerous.’ Pekau said he valued the ‘respectful views of all my constituents.’

(Chicago Sun-Times) The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Tuesday condemned Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s suggestion that those who disagree with America’s interests regarding the Israel-Hamas war can “go to another country.” The southwest suburban mayor made the remarks […]

Government & Politics

Muslim community leaders will meet in Chicago to push campaign against Biden as deaths mount in Israel-Hamas war Chicago’s #AbandonBiden event is scheduled to coincide with the annual Muslim American Society and Islamic Circle of North America convention, expected to draw more than 30,000 to McCormick Place over the weekend.

(Chicago Sun-Times) Muslim community leaders from across the country will rally in Chicago Saturday, calling for voters to drop their support for President Joe Biden because of his administration’s refusal to call for a cease-fire in Gaza as the civilian death toll […]

Interfaith

CAIR director says he was ‘happy’ to witness Oct. 7 attacks, Israel ‘does not have right to self-defense’ CAIR co-founder Nihad Awad also stated that Israel had no right to defend itself from Hamas attacks because it is an 'occupying power'

(Fox) One of the top executives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said he was “happy” to witness the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Nihad Awad, executive director and co-founder of CAIR, expressed his feelings on the terrorist attack at […]

Alcohol & Drugs

Lombard man pleads guilty to trafficking fentanyl and providing support to ISIS Jason Brown, 41, has been in custody since his 2019 arrest. He was accused of shipping fentanyl from California to the suburbs and sending money to the Islamic State of Iraq.

(Chicago Sun-Times) A suburban man pleaded guilty Wednesday to trafficking drugs and attempting to provide materials to the Islamic State of Iraq in 2019. Jason Brown, 41, was charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, one count […]

Children & Teens

Man who plotted mass murder at Chicago synagogues, mosques as teen asks for 6 years in prison Xavier Pelkey, nicknamed 'The Bomb Guy,' became radicalized into extremist Islam while surfing internet in his bedroom

(WLS) Authorities said they interrupted a terror plot against metro Chicago mosques and synagogues when they arrested a Maine teenager more than 1.5 years ago. In a rural Maine town, 1,200 miles from Chicago, Xavier Pelkey sat in his bedroom and devised […]

Internet

Former DePaul University student gets 7.5 years for trying to help Islamic State with computer program Thomas Osadzinski’s prosecution was believed to be the first of its kind when it began three years ago — a terrorism case brought against a U.S.-based defendant involving computer code.

(Chicago Sun-Times) An unusual terrorism case in Chicago came to a close Thursday when a federal judge handed a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence to a former DePaul University student who tried to aid the Islamic State with a computer script. Before he was […]

Government & Politics

Muslim Americans make historic gains in 2022 midterm elections 'When Muslims run for office today, in 2022 and beyond, ... it's rewarded by voters,' said Mohammed Missouri, executive director of Jetpac, a nonprofit that works to increase Muslim representation in US government and politics.

(Religion News) Nabeela Syed made history in this year’s midterms when she defeated a Republican incumbent in Illinois’ 51st District, making her the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly and among the first Muslims elected to the state Legislature. “It is […]

Government & Politics

American Muslims in the midterms aren’t long-shot candidates anymore In 2018, a Muslim blue wave emerged in response to Trump. Four years later, many Muslim American candidates are prepping for long careers.

(HuffPost) Abdelnasser Rashid was one of the dozens of American Muslims who ran for office in 2018. It was dubbed the Muslim blue wave, where more than 90 American Muslims ran for office up and down the ballot, emboldened to push back […]

Government & Politics

How Marie Newman’s ethics scandal put her in bed with a terrorist sympathizer As a college professor, Illinois Dem's foreign policy adviser praised convicted Palestinian terrorist

(Free Beacon) Democratic congresswoman Marie Newman’s (Ill.) decision to bribe a local Palestinian activist out of her 2020 primary race hasn’t just led to ethics issues — it also put a terrorist sympathizer in charge of her campaign’s foreign policy. Last June, […]

Internet

Former DePaul University student guilty of trying to help Islamic State through computer program Defense attorneys said the case ran up against fundamental questions about free speech, insisting that Thomas Osadzinski 'had a right to watch those videos. He had a right to share those videos.'

(Chicago Sun-Times) A federal jury on Monday convicted a onetime student at DePaul University of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State in the form of a computer script that helped disseminate the terrorist group’s propaganda. Jurors at the Dirksen […]

Legal
Government & Politics

American Muslims to Democrats: ‘Palestine is a foreign policy priority’ The American Muslims for Palestine convention was bigger than ever, with participants looking to build momentum with Democrats

(Middle East Eye) Activists and academics gathered in Chicago over the weekend for the 12th annual American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) convention, calling on American Muslims and the Democratic Party to prioritise Palestine as a foreign policy issue. Those present at the […]

Internet

Chicago man accused of helping preserve Islamic State propaganda on social media Thomas Osadzinski, a 20-year-old college student, has been charged in a criminal complaint with one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization

(Chicago Sun-Times) Thomas Osadzinski said he couldn’t just “sit in the chair while Muslims are dying,” so he allegedly studied bomb-making and promised he would not be stopped “once I get my gun and explosive belt.” But the 20-year-old Lake View resident […]

Government & Politics

Muslim civil rights group sues feds over delays in asylum applications CAIR-Chicago is asking a federal court to force immigration agents to rule on seven asylum applications that have been in the pipeline for years.

(Chicago Sun-Times) The Chicago chapter of the country’s largest Muslim civil rights group is asking a federal court to force immigration agents to rule on asylum applications that have been in the pipeline for years. Asylum applicants have the right to live […]

Clothing

Lawsuit claims DMV rule about head coverings violates religious, civil liberties The lawsuit’s plaintiff said she felt pressured to sign the form last year at a driver’s license facility in Rockford, and now fears losing her license if she’s seen without a head covering.

(Chicago Sun-Times) A civil rights group is suing Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White over a rule it claims violates people’s religious rights at driver’s license facilities across the state. The issue: Anyone wearing a religious head covering while taking a driver’s […]

Banks & Banking

Woman charged with robbing Rogers Park, Skokie banks in one day Willie M. Thomas demanded money from a Wintrust Bank in [Chicago] and a Byline Bank in [Skokie] Aug. 15, according to federal prosecutors.

(Chicago Sun-Times) Federal charges have been filed against a woman in two bank robberies in north suburban Skokie and West Rogers Park earlier this month. Willie M. Thomas robbed both Aug. 15, stealing more than $8,000 in total, according to a criminal […]