Illinois lawmakers gathered Tuesday to highlight the rise of antisemitism in the state, pointing to a 59% increase in incidents this year, with over 335 cases reported. The #StopTheHate campaign, championed by Democrat legislators like state Sen. Laura Fine and Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, urged citizens to “communicate with empathy” to combat hate. However, questions remain about the lack of specific action against antisemitic violence, particularly on college campuses.
Sen. Fine, a Democrat from Glenview, acknowledged the silence from many leaders, stating, “I know that many people have been silent because they don’t know what to say or do.” While calling for empathy toward both Jews and Muslims, Fine avoided addressing the political roots of the problem, including growing anti-Israel sentiment on campuses and calls to repeal a 2015 law penalizing companies that boycott Israel. Fine dismissed the connection between the anti-Israel movement and rising antisemitism, calling it a “different issue.”
The conference was held days after the shooting of two Jewish individuals outside Washington D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum by University of Illinois Chicago graduate Elias Rodriguez. Katz Muhl cited FBI data showing Jews, though only 2.4% of the U.S. population, make up 68% of religious hate crime victims. In 2023, the FBI reported 1,832 anti-Jewish hate crimes, compared to 236 anti-Muslim cases.
House Bill 3023, which would have allowed Illinoisans to sue over hate flyers and threats, has stalled in the legislature. When asked about the lack of legislative solutions, Fine said the focus remains on raising awareness through campaigns like #StopTheHate, not passing new laws.
The event revealed a pattern: politicians acknowledging rising antisemitism, offering vague calls for empathy, but sidestepping concrete actions like strengthening anti-BDS laws or addressing the surge in campus extremism.
